Martyn Edward Tann, a 24-year-old man from Narrabri, New South Wales, who disappeared off Mullaloo Beach near Perth in April 2013, is likely deceased, with a shark attack considered a strong possibility, a Western Australian acting state coroner has ruled.
The disappearance prompted a multi-agency search involving land, air, and sea efforts, and several witnesses provided information. On July 6, 2026, a single-day inquest was held into Mr. Tann's disappearance.
"[The] evidence satisfies me that Martyn is deceased and died on that day… a shark [incident] is a strong possibility," said WA's acting state coroner Sarah Linton.
The court heard that Mr. Tann had invited his cousins to join him at the beach on April 2, 2013, but when they could not, he went alone. His uncle reported him missing to police that same night.
Police, represented by Mr. Robertson, believe Mr. Tann died in offshore waters. Witnesses reported seeing "commotion" in the water about 100 metres offshore on the day of the disappearance.
Despite the coroner's ruling, no direct evidence has been found to conclusively confirm a shark attack. Some witnesses also reported unusual dolphin behavior and saw Mr. Tann swim past them before he vanished.
Mr. Tann's family has held onto hope that his adventurous spirit might have led him to start a new life in a remote community, though the inquest's findings suggest otherwise.
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