Surfer confirmed dead after shark attack on Eyre Peninsula, as search continues for his body

A major rescue operation has now turned into a recovery effort as police search for the body of a 28-year-old surfer mauled off the Eyre Peninsula.

Police have confirmed the death of a young surfer mauled by a shark south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, as rescue efforts now turn to a bid to recover his body.

Lance Appleby, 28, was attacked by a shark while surfing in an area known as Granites, off the Westall Way Loop at Westall, at about 7.10pm on Thursday evening.

On Friday morning, Assistant Police Commissioner John De Candia confirmed that a report was being prepared for the coroner over Mr Appleby’s death.

“It’s a very sad, tragic circumstance for the family,” he said.

“Any death in these circumstances is absolutely tragic.”

Mr De Candia said local police, statewide police, water operations, STAR operations, local marine rescue and local SES would continue their search today to try and recover Mr Appleby’s body.

Emergency services search for a surfers’s body near Streaky Bay, in October 2023. Picture: Andrew Brooks/File

Mr De Candia responded to reports that locals had raised the alarm about possible shark sightings in the area in the hours before Mr Appleby’s death, including that a great white had been spotted “acting aggressively” in the area.

“It’s our understanding that some locals and other people, they might have reported some shark sightings in the area,” Mr De Candia said.

“Sometimes it’s best to listen to the locals, but at the end of the day, they’re going to make up their own minds and relation to enjoying the ocean.”

It is understood a man on a jetski recovered Mr Appleby’s surfboard shortly after the attack.

His death comes after a 55-year-old male surfer was killed by a great white shark in a frenzied attack near Granite Rock, along the same area of coastline, on October 31, 2023.

Todd Gendle, who was new to the area, was fatally mauled while swimming at a surf break at Granites Beach.

That stretch of coastline is known to be a hotspot and potential breeding area for great white sharks.

UniSA shark researcher Brianna Le Busque said that the Eyre Peninsula was a shark hot spot as they liked to feed in the area.

“They are a species that migrate big distances but on the Eyre Peninsula you’ve got lots of seals,” Dr Le Busque said in November, 2023.

Granite Rock, near Streaky Bay, is a hotspot for great white sharks. Picture: Andrew Brooks/File

She said great whites were drawn to the area because “the water goes really deep to really shallow quickly”.

In late 2023, just months after Mr Gendle’s death, 15-year-old surfer Khai Cowley was killed by a great white shark while surfing at Ethel Wreck Beach, near Marion Bay on the southwest coast of Yorke Peninsula.

The Primary Industries shark sighting log recorded almost 300 sightings in South Australia in 2024.