‘Hearts hurting’: Tributes for shark attack victim

The family and friends of a Sunshine Coast man fatally mauled by a shark off Fraser Island on Saturday have taken to social media to share their grief.

TRIBUTES are flowing for a Sunshine Coast dad who was fatally mauled by a shark off Fraser Island on Saturday.

Matthew Tratt, 36, was spear fishing with his brother off Indian Head when he was attacked by a shark about 2pm.

Scuba diver dies in Fraser Island shark attack

Mr Tratt’s brother managed to get him up onto rocks on the headland where bystanders, including an off-duty doctor and nurse, worked frantically for almost an hour to revive him.

A Queensland Ambulance Service emergency team winched down by the RACQ LifeFlight helicopter also worked on Mr Tratt but his injuries were too severe and he died at the scene.

Mr Tratt, an airconditioning contractor from Buderim, was a father of two and keen fisherman.

Shark attack victim Matthew Tratt and wife Kayla.

His grieving widow Kayla posted a photo of the two of them together on Facebook overnight.

“We can’t comprehend what you are going though right now Kayla,” friend Stacey Bates posted beneath the profile pic.

“Our hearts are hurting for you and the kids so much.

“This is a gorgeous photo, you have so many pictures and beautiful memories to cherish in your heart forever.”

Mr Tratt’s brother posted to Facebook later on Sunday: “Rest in peace to my brother who died in my arms in the water at Indian head Fraser Island spear fishing.”

Rest in peace to my brother who died in my arms in the water at Indian head Fraser Island spear fishing.

Posted by Rob Tratt on Saturday, 4 July 2020

Friend Wayne Stievano also took to Facebook to voice his heartbreak.

“Still can’t believe your (sic) gone Matthew Tratt,” he posted.

“You were taken way too early, you always had my back in the water, I only wish I could of been there today to have yours.

“We love you and miss you buddy, until we meet again, rest easy mate.”

The couple have two children.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today paid her condolences to the man’s family following the “brutal shark attack”.

“It’s once again a reminder that, especially around that Fraser Island area, it is home to a lot of sharks, and great whites,” she said.

– additional reporting by Jessica Marszalek