NSW tourist recounts the horrific scene as a shark took Lance Appleby

A surfing tourist has recounted the horrific moment a shark attacked Lance Appleby as multiple bystanders screamed at swimmers to leave the water.

• Community shattered after fatal attack

A surfing tourist who was about to paddle his board out at a popular break in the Eyre Peninsula has recounted the horrific moment a young local was dragged underwater by a shark.

The NSW tourist, who did not wish to be identified, told The Advertiser he’d been keen to surf the wave at Granites near Streaky Bay when he arrived on Thursday evening, but chose to take photos before heading out.

“I was sitting up here taking photos, that’s probably why I didn’t head out sooner,” he said.

“I’d just got down there and was in about knee high water about to paddle out and then there were horns going off.”

The search continues for missing surfer, Lance Appleby, believed to have been taken by a shark at Granites. Picture: Dean Martin

He said the car park above the surf break was full, and all of a sudden the cars above were honking and people were screaming to get out of the water.

“I just heard people yelling, and someone screamed ‘call an ambulance, he’s been taken’,” he said.

“I just ran straight across the rocks and that’s when I saw the last bit of it.

“Just thrashing.

“He wasn’t too far out, and there were about ten surfers out there at the time,” he said.

“There were lots of kids playing in the rock pools, and his friends and family, it looked like they were there with him too.

“He was paddling out in the middle of two guys. It could have been any of them.

“There were a couple of older guys who wanted to go out there and help him, but people had to hold them back. All you could see was just thrashing.

“I just feel so bad for the kids on the beach, they were running around asking if their parents had come out of the water yet.

“The reaction of the kids is just sitting with me. That’s what is bothering me most. The fact that so many people saw it.”

The witness also claims to have seen blood in the water.

He said whoever was in the car park above would have witnessed the whole ordeal.

He also said while he still wanted to surf that wave, he took it as “an omen” not to head out during this trip.

SES volunteers and police set out on a foot search at 9am on Saturday morning, with members of the public seen heading out with them.

The beach remains closed to the public.