'He died doing what he enjoyed doing the most': Search called off for 57-year old attacked by shark
The wife of a 57-year-old believed to have been taken by a shark while swimming in WA has paid tribute "to a lovely man and a great father" after emergency services suspended the search for him.
Paul Millachip's wife, who asked not have her first name published, said the father-of-two was "a wonderful man, a wonderful father and he loved his exercise."
Mr Millachip is believed to have been attacked by a shark at Port Beach in Fremantle yesterday morning.
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The wife of father-of-two Paul Millachip, said he was "a wonderful man, a wonderful father and he loved his exercise." Supplied
An emotional Mrs Millachip spoke as police announced they were calling off the search for now. Nine
An emotional Mrs Millachip spoke as police announced they were calling off the search for now.
"Rest in peace Paul. He died doing what he enjoyed doing the most which was exercising," she said.
Mr Millachip is believed to have been attacked by a shark at Port Beach in Fremantle yesterday morning. 9News
She said the couple went to the beach a few times a week to run and swim, describing her husband as a fit man who had completed triathlons and Iron Man events.
She was at the beach with him when the attack happened.
"It came out of the blue. But it did happen, you just have to deal with it," she said.
She praised the teenagers who witnessed the attack and tried to help.
When the shark attacked a second time, they raced their boat, a metal dinghy, along the shoreline to clear the water of other swimmers and alert authorities.
Witnesses believe the shark was a 4.5m great white.
Mrs Millachip said it must have been an "absolutely terrifying experience."
"My heart goes out to them and I thank them for what they did," she said.
Police are searching for a man in his 50s after a shark attack off a popular Western Australian beach Holly Thompson
A large shark was sighted close to shore shortly before the attack. 9News
The couple were originally from the UK, and their family was unable to travel to support them during the tragedy because of border restrictions, she said.
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Acting Inspector Troy Douglas from WA Police said while an "extensive search" from the air, water and shore, restarted at 6am this morning, it had now been called off.
"We have been unable to locate anything," he said.
The search for the 57-year old has now been called off. Holly Thompson
Police earlier found goggles on the beach they believed belonged to Mr Millachip.
Inspector Douglas again praised the teenagers for the "fantastic effort" during what was a "traumatic scene".
Beaches between North Mole and North Cottesloe remained closed today.
Talking on Today this morning, shark expert Darryl McPhee from Bond University in WA, said waters off Perth were a hotspot for shark attacks.
"Going forward, we still expect more fatalities over time. You just can't exactly predict where and exactly when," he said.
Analysis of shark attack data showed they occurred over a wide time period, Dr McPhee said.
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Surf lifesavers monitor the water after a shark attack. 9News
Beaches between North Mole and North Cottesloe remained closed today. 9News
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