Young man who vanished without a trace at Perth beach was likely killed by a shark, coroner rules
A young beachgoer who vanished without a trace 13 years ago was likely killed by a shark, a coroner has ruled.
NSW marine biologist and diver Martyn Tann, 24, was visiting relatives in Perth in April 2013 when he visited Mullaloo Beach to go for a swim and never returned.
His abandoned belongings were later found on the beach, sparking an extensive land and sea search which failed to find any trace of him.
On Monday, an inquest into his disappearance ruled that Mr Tann likely died the day he visited Mullaloo, where he was seen by multiple witnesses swimming out to a buoy several hundred metres from shore.
The inquest heard that bubbling water spotted by beachgoers was a fish feeding frenzy, which likely attracted sharks.
A white shirt that washed up on the beach at the time of Mr Tann’s disappearance had ‘jagged cuts’ consistent with a shark attack.
Dr Rory McAuley, a shark expert, examined the shirt and said the damage was consistent with a shark attack.
WA acting state coroner Sarah Linton told the inquest she is satisfied that Mr Tann is deceased.
An inquest into the 2013 disappearance of Martyn Tann was held on Monday
The marine biologist and experienced diver from Narrabri in NSW was in Perth visiting relatives
The coroner ruled that Mr Tann was likely killed by a shark at Perth’s Mullaloo beach
‘As to what happened to him, a shark is a strong possibility,’ she said.
Further DNA testing will be conducted to identify whether a dreadlock later washed up on the beach two months later belonged to Mr Tann.
WA Police continue to treat his disappearance as an ongoing investigation.
Thirteen years on, Mr Tann’s family are still desperate for answers.
‘There’s no closure when you’ve got a missing person,’ his father Colin told Nine News.
‘He was our youngest son. He’s been gone 13 years.
‘There’s not a day that goes past without thinking about him.’
The coroner will hand down her findings at a later date.
