Shark attack: Diver Gary Johnson's wife had to let body sink in ocean as ‘his eyes were open but he was unresponsive’
The horrific last moments of Gary Johnson, who was killed by a shark off the coast of Esperance near Cull Island in Western Australia on January 5 were relayed in court on November 17. The diver was mauled to death by the predator even as his wife tried to save him but she gave up 'when his eyes were open but he was unresponsive', the inquest heard.
According to News.com.au, Western Australia Coroner's Court had heard that Johnson, 57, was using a shark shield when he was attacked by the shark. He had entered the water to tie a rope to a rock on the seabed to act as a second anchor for their boat. Johnson had turned the shield off while going down since while securing the rope previously it had tangled on the shield and given him a shock, but he would religiously turn it once he turned tied the rope, his wife, Karen Milligan, is believed to have said. Senior Constable Craig Robertson told the court that Johnson's wife said that he was a very cautious diver. The pair had been diving together when Johnson was savaged by the shark. They had reached the seafloor at a depth of around 15 meters before Johnson had disappeared over a mound. Constable Robertson shared, "She thought it was unusual as it was not normal for him to do this."
Johnson's wife Milligan immediately swam towards her husband when she saw the water become "full of blood and sand" and saw a shark tail "flapping" around in the water. Robertson added, "She swam forward in an attempt to strike the tail with the camera she was holding and is unsure if she made contact."
Milligan started to panic and swam to the surface, she saw no trace of the shark but found her husband's body. "His eyes were open, but he was unresponsive. She saw that he had suffered a traumatic injury to his right arm and was no longer wearing his mask or air tank," Robertson continued.
Coroner Sarah Linton shared, "From the moment of the attack, there was nothing that you could have done" and reassured Milligan that the "sudden, fatal attack" had put Johnson beyond her help.
Milligan attempted to take her husband's body back onto the boat but she was unable to get him on board. She even tried tying her inflatable diving vest to him in an attempt to keep him afloat. As she released her grip on the body, he sank into the sea. Robertson shared how divers had recovered his vest and oxygen tank which had visible signs of a shark attack. DNA testing of the items revealed the presence of a great white shark.
The inquest is being held to formally declare whether Johnson had died. His remains have not yet been found. Milligan was rushed to the hospital where she was treated for shock. A first responder Glen Quinlaven who had been setting up for a day trip on his boat had heard her screams for help. "We tried to find him. We tried to help her but to no avail. I really feel for her, she’s obviously witnessed something you don’t want to see," Quinlaven revealed.
Milligan had released a statement in light of her husband's passing and said, "He and I were at home in and on the ocean. We would go out diving in our boat whenever we could, most weekends. We were always aware of the risks and often told each other that if we were attacked by a shark that would just be unlucky."
Esperance is well known for shark attacks and the WA state government had also put up three warning towers at beaches in the area after Johnson's attack and death.
