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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →South Perth paddler Georgina Smith was knocked from her canoe by what was believed to be a bull shark near Black Wall Reach on the Swan River on 22 February 2025, according to a contemporaneous PerthNow report. The shark’s species has not been officially confirmed in the sources available.
What happened near Black Wall Reach?
At about 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, 22 February 2025, Smith, then 35, was paddling near Black Wall Reach when an animal struck her canoe and knocked her into the water, PerthNow reported. Smith was a member of the Hurricane Outrigger Canoe Club and was training for a national title. The incident database Global Shark Accident File also describes the species as suspected, rather than confirmed.
Smith waved to a man in a nearby dinghy, who took her back to her club, according to the report. It did not describe a bodily injury; that omission does not establish her medical condition.
What did Smith say about the encounter?
In an interview with 7News quoted by PerthNow, Smith said she initially thought the animal was a dolphin. She noticed teeth marks on her canoe after returning to shore and then reconsidered what she had seen. The report also said she intended to return to the water but did not plan to train near Black Wall Reach again. These details are attributed to the media account and interview.
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Was the animal confirmed to be a bull shark?
No official confirmation of the shark’s species appears in the sources collected. PerthNow described it as believed to be a bull shark, and Global Shark Accident File likewise uses suspected-species wording. It is therefore more accurate to call this a reported encounter with a suspected bull shark than a confirmed bull shark attack.
The incident database classifies the interaction as involving a “watercraft.” That is a third-party database description, not an official finding by Western Australian authorities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can Swan River users check for shark activity?
Check current alerts before heading out
WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) directs the public to SharkSmart for current shark alerts and warnings. Activity information can change, so check the service before going onto the water. The pages cited here do not establish what alerts were active during Smith’s 2025 encounter.
Report a sighting
DPIRD says shark sightings can be reported to Water Police at 9442 8600, a 24/7 contact. Reports may prompt responses such as a beach closure by lifeguards or the relevant land manager. The department says its shark notification and response system was developed with Water Police and Surf Life Saving WA.
Read river notices and heed monitoring buoys
The WA Department of Transport’s Swan and Canning Rivers notices identify a shark-monitoring buoy at Blackwall Reach and tell mariners to keep clear of buoys and their associated equipment. DPIRD’s 2023–24 annual report says three Shark Monitoring Network receivers were installed in the Swan River: at East Fremantle, Blackwall Reach and near Canning Bridge. These receivers provide near-real-time notifications of tagged-shark activity; their existence does not show what was detected during Smith’s encounter.
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