Suspected shark victim was in shallow water

The search for a suspected shark attack victim is continuing off Port Kennedy beach this morning.

The man, believed to be aged in his 50s, was reportedly swimming with his son about 6.30am this morning when he went
missing.

Western Australian police said the man was swimming with his son in waters off Port Kennedy dog beach, at Rockingham, 30km south of Perth, when he disappeared around 7:15am.

"Something very traumatic has happened there and we are treating it as a probable shark attack," Mr Valentine told AAP.

"There was lots of talk among witnesses at the incident location about seeing fins in the water but we can't yet say whether there was definitely a shark out there."

No details about the man or his son were available.

Channel Nine reports a 4m white pointer was spotted off the beach yesterday.

Police will be giving a press conference at 11am.

''Our condolences are with the son. All our thoughts are with him, and the family of the man at this time,'' Mr Sammels said.

In response to a report a shark had been seen in the area yesterday, a department spokesman said no official sighting had been reported.

The CEO of surf-lifesaving WA, Paul Andrew, said the attack occurred two hours before the 9am scheduled flyover of a new helicopter shark patrol service, launched by the WA Government early in December.

Today's attack has prompted a review of the helicopter operating hours.