A surfer who went missing off the shores of South Australia is presumed to have succumbed to a shark attack, authorities have reported.
Lance Appleby, 28, was in the waters at the renowned surfing location Granites Beach, close to the coastal township of Streaky Bay, on Thursday evening when observers indicated they witnessed his assault.
One onlooker ventured into the water on a jet ski to recover the surfboard Mr. Appleby was using at that moment, but there were no signs of him, senior constable Rebecca Stokes shared with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“There has been absolutely no sign of this young man, there’s simply been no trace of him,” she informed ABC. “Based on the descriptions provided by witnesses, we are quite certain that tragically he has been killed by this shark.”
The South Australia Police announced that a combined air, land, and sea search would persist on January 3 in an effort to find Mr. Appleby’s remains.
Granites Beach in South Australia is a favored destination for surfers. Pic: iStock
Mr. Appleby, a resident of Port Lincoln, was well-known in the Streaky Bay community, as per Sky News Australia.
Assistant police commissioner John De Candia described the incident as “absolutely tragic,” noting its significant impact on many individuals.
A different man was fatally attacked by a white shark at the same beach in 2023. Ms. Stokes mentioned that this region is recognized for shark activity, and the beach has been closed to the public.
Dr. Brianna Le Busque, a shark researcher at the University of South Australia, indicated to Sky News Australia that Mr. Appleby was likely targeted by a great white shark, as this species tends to be more active during the summer months.
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“With more individuals in the ocean during summer, the likelihood of unfortunate bites increases in these months,” Ms. Le Busque remarked.
South Australia has documented a higher frequency of shark attacks over the past two years than typical.
Five attacks were recorded off the state’s coast in 2023, three of which were fatal, including one at the same beach where Thursday’s incident occurred. In 2024, one non-fatal shark bite was noted off the coast of South Australia.
