Australian waters are not so famous for seeing prevalent shark attacks. According to official records, since 1791, the continent has seen 255 such cases. Even in 2023, cases like this were rare. But in the last two years, a certain name has come to the news several times. The first one came in 2023. The official data says Tod Gendle, a 55-year-old surfing enthusiast, came under shark attack at Granites Beach last year. His body wasn’t recovered, though. A similar incident took place at the same beach on Thursday last week. 

This time as well, the body has yet to be recovered. However, the victim was a well-known surfing talent with a huge charm. Nobody could have expected him to come under the grip of such an attack. Furthermore, there had been red signs before the attack, alerting the surfers nearby. Yet things happened. How? 

The South Australia beach sees another shark attack 

On January 2, the Australian news broadcaster, 9 News Australia, shared detailed news on Australian surfer Lance Appleby’s missing in Granite Beach near Streaky Bay in Eyre Peninsula. On Instagram, a part of it was shared. As per the report, the locals had been the first ones to raise the alarm after spotting the 28-year-old attacked by a shark. It was just before seven o’clock in the evening. Soon, an individual named Jeff Schmucker initiated a search while riding on his jet ski. But he didn’t find his friend, Lance. Instead, Jeff recovered Lance’s damaged surfboard 1500 meters offshore. The board had a bite mark and a piece of leg rope. That confirmed the incident of a shark attack. Since then, the local bodies, such as Streaky Bay Council members, the emergency services, and the local surfing community, drove a deep search into the water to find the victim. 

But on Saturday, they concluded the operation without finding any sign of the Lincoln native. That fact made the officials fear the ultimate result, Lance Appleby’s death. 9 News Australia’s update claims he was a family man, a prominent surfing talent, and a footballer. For his work engagement, he moved to Queensland. But in the Christmas break, Appleby came to Streaky Bay. Jeff Schmucker had known him for a long time. He described the victim, saying, “A beautiful young man, loves the ocean, and a great footballer. He’s a very competent surfer too. Watched him grow up surfing and it wasn’t long before he was.” But things now have become a memory. Meanwhile, the surfing community has found it hard to cope with the entire situation. In the comment box beneath 9 News Australia’s report, they penned their emotions through words. 

The surfing community raises concern 

In the comment box, someone was quick to pen, “Was nice to work together, so sad this .. rest in peace brother 🙏” The comment hints at the message coming from someone who once knew Lance Appleby. In his life, Lance shared a lot of interest. Not only surfing but also in football, he made his name playing for Marble Range, a Port Lincoln-based football club. Now, his absence might fill the air with a gloomy tone. The recalling led another surfing fan to note in the comment box, “Condolences to the young man’s family and friends..” In the meantime, several users raised a few important questions. Per them, a justified answer or solution could have stopped the accident. Such as? 

In the comment box, someone wrote, “😢😢😢😢😢😢 just heartbreaking 💔 wish they were told shark seen and surfers got out.” Here comes an update: Jeff Schmucker shared an alert on social media regarding a great white shark’s presence near Granites Beach much before the incident. “I was out crab fishing at the time and I heard that and I thought this is a recipe for disaster – this week with the looming swell,” he told the news media. He came to know the news from a fisherman who encountered the shark near the beach on Wednesday. Additionally, when he shared the update on his social media, the shark was seen near Scale Bay. But not any surfer paid heed to his words. 

With the hours passing by, the crowd gathered at Granites Beach on Thursday. During lunchtime, it reached 30 even. Lance Appleby may have come later and surfed in the evening. But isn’t there knowledge of sharks’ extended activities during the evening hours? Someone raised that topic in the comment box. The surfing fan wrote, “Need to educate surfers about not surfing at dawn and dusk or during low light periods when sharks feed as large majority of these incidents occurred during this time.”

Additionally, the fisherman who spotted the shark first informed the surfing community at Granites Beach after reaching the shore on Wednesday. Later, the South Australian West Coast shark alert forum put a message on Facebook regarding the shark’s presence. But nothing helped. So the situation has raised a pertinent question: What should be done to avoid such incidents? 

In the comment box, a fan quipped, “What can be done to prevent further tragedies? Surfers staying out the water in their seal suits would be a good start! Leave the sharks alone, surfers know the risks and they choose to go in anyway.” Is that a solution to nip the problem in the bud? What do you think?