Adelaide teenager Khai Cowley killed in shark attack off Ethel Beach

Witnesses have described the horrifying events at a Yorke Peninsula beach on Thursday, that saw a Cardijn College boy lose his life.

A Maslin Beach boy, 15, was killed in a shark attack at a popular tourist location on the Yorke Peninsula on Thursday.

Tributes were flowing on social media for the boy, believed to be a talented young surfer.

“A boy with so much potential. He will hold a place in everyone’s heart,” a tribute from a family friend read.

Local residents paying respect to the boy at Ethel Beach on Thursday evening told The Advertiser he was bitten on the leg by the shark.

“The shark took his leg, and so another local guy ran out, jumped on his board and paddled out to help him,” one local said.

“The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood.

“He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then.”

The Advertiser understands the boy, who usually surfs near Seaford on the mid coast south of Adelaide, was on a day trip in the area with his father.

Police received reports of the attack at about 1.30pm. Image: Google Maps

The Advertiser also understands his dad witnessed the incident.

The teen’s body was recovered from the water at 1.30pm Thursday, with police preparing a report for the coroner.

One local fishing charter operator, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Advertiser there were frequently big sharks in the waters along Marion Bay, around to Innes National Park.

“We’ve seen some pretty big bronzies in the area, but that’s normal here,” he said.

“I went to take the boat out and the road to Ethel’s was blocked by rangers. There’s no cell reception out there in the park so we didn’t know what had happened until we got back to Marion Bay.”

O’Reilley Grey at Ethel Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

Douglas Harden and Stephanie Salder at Ethel Beach, where a teenager was fatally attacked by a shark. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

He said the population in nearby Marion Bay had increased “tenfold” over the holiday period.

“There’d be hundreds more people over here at the moment,” he said.

Marion Bay’s Beach Break coffee cart visits beaches within Innes National Park daily, with its owner saying he had heard reports from customers since the attack.

“It’s incredibly unusual, it’s the first shark attack I’ve ever heard of,” he said.

“We go to various spots in the national park and I’ve been doing that for the past 22 years.”

O’Reilly Gray, who teaches outdoor education in the area, said the news was “tragic”.

“People come down here to get away and reset and he was probably doing that with family so it’s really sad.

“I’ve never come across anything like this when I’m out working with kids.

Douglas Hadden and Stephanie Sadler said they traveled to the region from Sydney to to go surfing over the public holidays.

“I wasn’t out when it happened, but when I came back in the late afternoon, there was no one in the water, Mr Hadden said, and he was now reluctant to get back in the water as he was still processing the fatal attack.

Shark expert Andrew Fox from the Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Learning Centre said overcast conditions such as those experienced on Thursday were condusive to shark attacks.

“The water visibility is a little bit murky and these conditions suit ambush predators, like sharks,” Mr Fox said.

“Ambush predators approach with stealth, so conditions like murky waters do mean an attack might be more likely.” He said nearly every unprompted shark attack involved white sharks rather than bronze whalers.

Ethel Beach, where a teenager was fatally attacked by a shark earlier in the day. Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula. Picture: Ben Clark

Ethel Beach in Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula. Picture: Department for Environment and Water

“White sharks tend to eat larger prey, mammals - you can see this by the size of their teeth, they are triangular and serrated,” he said.

“Bronze whaler sharks are very often implicated but they have smaller teeth and typically consume fish.”

Mr Fox also warned people against swimming in areas rich in food life for sharks.

“Swimming in these areas is always a risk, generally it’s not a good idea to swim where there are food sources for sharks,” he said.

“The big schools of salmon are a food source and indicate a thriving ecosystem, which is where surfers tend to be.”

Flinders University shark expert Professor Charlie Huveneers said the five shark attacks in SA this year, including three fatalities, were tragic for the victims, families of the victims, and witnesses.

“Unfortunately, a series of several shark bites within a short timeframe is not unusual and has occurred in other states and in other countries,” he said.

“The risk of shark bite is difficult to predict and a range of factors can contribute to trends in shark sightings and shark bites.”

The Yorke Peninsula Council website says Ethel Wreck Beach is one of many popular surfing locations in the area.

It describes Ethel Wreck as: “A summer break only. Fickle but can get very good. Usually a powerful right-hander up to two metres. Best on a low to medium tide and north easterly winds.”

The attack comes after a swimmer went missing at the same beach in January, 2020.

SA has been hit hard this year with five shark attacks, including three that were fatal.

On October 31, 55-year-old surfer Tod Gendle was killed in a frenzied attack at the popular surfing spot Granites Beach near Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula.

In May Elliston Primary School teacher, 43-year-old Simon Baccanello was surfing at Walkers Rock near Elliston on the SA West Coast. –