Tourists watched on in horror as a great white shark ripped a diver to shreds at a holiday hotspot today.

The unnamed man was torn apart at 1:30pm local time off the coast of Western Australia's popular Cull Island.

A pal of the victim was treated for shock after helplessly watching the beast tear her friend apart.

Specialist search teams are scouring the water in a desperate bid to recover the body.

A police spokesman said: "Esperance Police and Marine Rescue WA volunteers deployed to the area on board marine rescue vessels.

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  Fisherman’s horror as great white shark circles boat in terrifying footage

"They are still searching the ocean for the victim.

"A woman who was on board the boat at the time of the incident has been returned to shore, and has been taken by St John Ambulance to hospital. She is suffering from shock."

"Police Air Wing and specialist divers from Water Police are assisting with the search."

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  Man whose leg washed up on beach following gruesome 'shark attack' pictured

Local politician Ian Mickel said: "It’s a real tragedy to lose people enjoying the ocean.

"We have thousands of people having a good time on the water and [to] get a fatal shark attack – It’s a major concern.

"There is a lot being done with Shark Smart, we’ve got the majority of our surfers contributing to that.

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  Great white shark bares razor-sharp teeth as it breaches water in terrifying video

"Tagged sharks are registering against the buoys [receivers]… but this is really tragic.”

It comes three years after teen surfer Laeticia Brouwer was savaged at nearby Wylie Bay.

She was mauled to death by a great white as she paddled with her dad on a family holiday.

Her anguished parents watched on as bystanders battled to save her.

Earlier this week a great white shark died on a New Zealand beach after a mob of tourists stomped it to death.

The 9ft beast was illegally dragged ashore in a net before the men caved in its skull with a series of brutal kicks.

Great white sharks are considered a 'vulnerable' species as their numbers have shrunk due to overfishing.

• Great White Shark
• Sharks

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