The surfing community was once again shocked when Lance Appleby was a victim of a shark attack at Granites Beach in Australia last Thursday. Lance, 28, disappeared under the waves after being dragged down by a great white shark, leaving his family and friends devastated. However, despite the sudden jolt to the guts, community members have rallied forward to answer the Appleby family’s plea.

The beach, located on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, has become notorious in recent years as a place where shark attacks are frequent. Last year, Tod Gendle, a 55-year-old surfing enthusiast, also went missing after an encounter with the sea creature. Understandably, the latest incident has created a ripple within the surfing fraternity, which is looking to do its part in helping the family overcome its grief.

The surfing community steps up to aid Lance Appleby’s family

A GoFundMe was set up a couple of days ago to help Lance’s family tackle the financial troubles. “The pain the family is feeling is impossible to describe. They are absolutely devastated, and there is a gaping hole in their hearts,” reads the caption of the GoFundMe description, while noting that the Appleby family is finding comfort in the fact that Lance passed away doing what he loved the most. The community members answered the call with vehement gusto, and over $100,000 has been raised already.

The deceased surfing enthusiast’s brother Kenneth wrote on social media, “would give anything to have him back.” Known for his infectious smile and love of the ocean, Lance was a talented footballer and passionate surfer who lived life to the fullest, and the raised amount shows just how loved he was in and out of the water.

Shark fisherman Jeff Schmucker was among the first on the scene who found Appleby’s surfing board. He stated, “The board had a bite mark in the bottom and the rope was severed in half.” After learning of the tragic incident many surfing connoisseurs took to social media to share their condolence for the Appleby family, while many others suggested that better measures should be taken by the authorities to educate surfers on how to protect themselves from such harrowing accidents while trying to dominate the waves. The issue should be even more pertinent, considering several shark attacks have been recorded across the world in recent months.

Shark attacks becoming more and more common

In January last year, horrific scenes unfolded when a shark attacked a 10-year-old child in the Bahamas. Lauren Erickson Van Wart from Massachusetts also lost his life after a gnarly shark attack, while a surfer on Australia’s West Coast escaped death with only a bite from a shark lurking beneath the waves. Then, veteran surfing celebrity Charley Hajek also crossed paths with the deadly creature in September, which ended his 148-day surfing streak. “By the time I even thought twice about it, it just bam! It bit me up. Man, I felt like I stepped my foot on a light socket,” said Hajek, who goes by the name Gnarly Charley on social media.

In July, 23-year-old Kai McKenzie had his leg severed by a shark while surfing in New South Wales. However, people who live close to and rely on marine ecosystems believe that it’s the fault of the humans who are encroaching on the sharks’ habitat every day. Instead, they suggest better cohabitation should be promoted from the ground up so that such encounters can be reduced. What do you think would help? Share your suggestions in the comments below.