Home / Shark Attacks / 1949 Shark Attacks in 1949 In 1949, the Global Shark Attack File logged 31 shark attacks worldwide — 13.6% above the historical annual average. 9 were fatal (29.0%). Australia accounted for the most incidents that year, with 15.
Fatality rate
29.0%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
14% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 1949 Species most often involved in 1949 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 1949 Seaholme, Australia Non-fatal
1949-11-30 · Lying on the bottom of a 16' dinghy · Grey nurse shark, 2.6 m [8.5']
Between Cuba & Costa Rica Fatal
1949-11-30 · Sea Disaster, sinking of the motorship Wingate · Shark involvement not confirmed
Kurnell, Botany Bay, Australia Non-fatal
1949-11-19 · Free diving or wading back to shore · 6' shark
Port Phillip Bay, Australia Non-fatal
1949-11-11 · No details · Shark involvement prior to death not confirmed
Yorkey’s Knob Beach near Cairns, Australia Non-fatal
1949-08-27 · Swimming
Yorkey’s Knob Beach near Cairns, Australia Fatal
1949-08-27 · Swimming
Elba Island, Italy Non-fatal
1949-08-16 · Swimming · 2 m shark
Flinders Island, Australia Non-fatal
1949-08-15 · Swimming near shore
Cosenza, Italy Non-fatal
1949-08-09 · Swimming
Bashamir, Iran Fatal
1949-07-27 · Swimming
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 1949? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 31 shark attacks worldwide in 1949, with 9 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 1949? ▾ 29.0% of shark attacks recorded in 1949 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 1949? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 1949 were Australia (15), Papua New Guinea (6), Italy (3).
Which shark species were most often involved in 1949 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 1949 were White Shark, Nurse Shark.
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