Wife pays touching tribute to husband who was killed by a shark while swimming

A woman has paid tribute to her British husband who was killed by a shark off the coast of Perth.

57-year-old Paul Millachip was swimming off the coast at Port Beach near Perth when he is believed to have been attacked by a large 15ft great white shark.

His wife has described him as being a “wonderful” husband and father and said he “died doing what he enjoyed the most” as the search for Millachip’s body was called off.

Millachip was originally from Willesden in London and was an avid triathlete who “loved his exercise”. His goggles were recovered after the attack.

Teenagers in a dinghy in that water who saw the attack as it happened urged others to get out of the water and raised the alarm.

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Mrs Millachip said at a press conference: “Rest in peace, Paul. He died [doing] what he enjoyed doing the most, which was exercising.”

Later in her statement, she thanked the officials who had been involved in the search for Paul. She also praised the young men who witnessed the attack and sought help.

She continued: “A special mention to those young lads in the boat for what they did in what must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for them, so my heart goes out to them and I thank them for what they did.”

Millachip’s widow explained that the pair would visit the beach regularly and would go running before going into the sea to swim.

The attack on Millachip is Australia’s third shark attack fatality this year, however, there have been 18 attacks on humans in total across the country,