Tim Thompson’s family make heartbreaking pledge after shark attack

“This little baby is my glimmer of hope”: Those closest to shark attack victim Tim Thompson have vowed his unborn child will grow up knowing all about his caring soul.

The grieving family of a man tragically killed by a shark on the Mid North Coast have vowed his unborn child will grow up knowing about its incredible father.

Jennie Thompson said her entire family was “beyond devastated” and in shock after her son Tim Thompson was fatally mauled on Sunday. 

Mr Thompson was surfing at a popular break near Emerald Beach, north of Coffs Harbour, when he was bitten by a shark.

The disability care worker succumbed to his serious injuries despite the heroic efforts of fellow surfers and emergency services.

“We are just in disbelief, I still wake up and want it to be a dream and want my boy back – we all do,” Ms Thompson said.

Never far away from the ocean, Ms Thompson described a boy who developed a love for surfing and fishing from a young age.

Tim Thompson (centre) surrounded by family including his wife Katie Thompson. The Woolgoolga man was tragically killed after being bitten by a shark while surfing near Emerald Beach.

Even when he moved away from the Mid North Coast to Sydney, he found himself living on the Northern Beaches.

“I don’t think he could live away from the surf or where he could throw a fishing line in,” she said.

It was during that time in Sydney that Mr Thompson met the love of his life, Katie, who he married in March of this year after moving back to the region and buying their first home in Woolgoolga.

They were expecting their first child in January.

Ms Thompson said her son would have made the “most wonderful father”.

Tim Thompson (centre) with his father David Thompson and mother Jennie Thompson.

“We are going to continue to love Katie and support baby T,” she said.

“We are looking forward to meeting baby T and it is going to be the most loved baby and it’s going to know about its dad.”

She said her son and his wife had set themselves up well.

“They were just so in love and it is so cruel that he won’t be there to have this baby,” she said.

“We are just feeling so empty right now.”

Katie said she had been “blown away” by an outpouring of support from the community and hoped that “wherever Tim is, he can feel all this love”.

She prayed their baby had his spirit.

“This little baby is my glimmer of hope,” she said.

“I know Tim has created big shoes for me to fill but I won’t let him down.”

Tim Thompson and wife Katie Thompson.

On Monday Katie summoned the strength to write a touching tribute to her much-loved husband.

Her eloquent words touched the hearts of many in the community who responded by contributing to a fundraising page created by a friend and cousin.

As of Tuesday afternoon it had amassed more than $125,000.

Katie said her husband’s nature was well known among family and friends, but said she didn’t realise he had touched so many people.

That “caring and thoughtful” nature enabled him to forge a career in disability support, ensuring he touched the lives of countless others through his professional life too.

His mother agreed it was a fitting role for her son.

Tim Thompson.

“That’s Tim, that’s the sort of person he was, he would have gone out of his way to do anything for anybody,” she said.

“Some of his clients have reached out and expressed the loss they are feeling, they loved their ‘Timbo’.”

The tragedy has rocked the whole family, many of whom have spoken of what an incredible man he was.

Mr Thompson’s aunt and uncle, Linda and Darrel Swanson, said he was “one in a million – with a heart of gold”.

Compelled to thank the Coffs Coast and wider Australian public for their support, Mr Thompson’s friend and family member Simon Wall posted an emotional video online.

Mr Wall urged people to take some time to “care for one another” like the “caring soul” Tim would have.

“Of anybody on earth who didn’t deserve something like this it would be Timmy,” Mr Wall said.

“I know he would be looking down on us, with a smirk on his face, saying it will be OK, we will get through this together.”

Mr Thompson’s grandparents Rita and Keith Swanson agreed that he was the type of guy never to say a bad word about anyone.

“He was just such a loveable grandson and he had so much going for him with his new wife Katie and as a father-to-be,” Ms Swanson said.

“I could write a book on him, he loved everybody.”