Home / Shark Attacks / 1940 Shark Attacks in 1940 In 1940, the Global Shark Attack File logged 24 shark attacks worldwide — 12.0% below the historical annual average. 9 were fatal (37.5%). Australia accounted for the most incidents that year, with 10.
Fatality rate
37.5%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
12% below
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1940 Species most often involved in 1940 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1940 Stockton Beach, Newcastle, Australia Fatal
1940-12-27 · Standing on sandbank
Inyoni Rocks, South Coast, South Africa Fatal
1940-12-19 · Swimming
Double Island Beach, Australia Non-fatal
1940-12-18 · Fishing
Darwin, Australia Non-fatal
1940-12-09 · Collecting fish in military trap when bitten by captured shark that had been shot by soldiers with Garten
Otoque Island, Panama Fatal
1940-08-31 · Bathing · 5.5 m [18'] shark
Folly Beach, Charleston County, United States Non-fatal
1940-07-12 · Standing
Folly Beach, Charleston County, United States Non-fatal
1940-07-12 · Standing
Holden Beach, Brunswick County, United States Non-fatal
1940-06-29 · Fishing · 3 m [10'] shark
Danger Pool, Winkelspruit, South Coast, South Africa Fatal
1940-03-30 · Treading water · White shark, species identity confirmed by tooth pattern
Gerringong, Australia Non-fatal
1940-03-19 · Free diving for lobster · Wobbegong shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1940? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 24 shark attacks worldwide in 1940, with 9 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1940? ▾ 37.5% of shark attacks recorded in 1940 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1940? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1940 were Australia (10), South Africa (7), United States (3).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1940 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1940 were White Shark, Spotted Wobbegong.
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