Hundreds farewell horror shark attack victim Tadashi Nakahara at Ballina
TADASHI Nakahara may have been from Japan but his ‘family’ was in Ballina where hundreds today farewelled the 41-year-old father-of-one at the spot where was was taken by a giant shark.
NSW
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TADASHI Nakahara may have been from Japan but his ‘family’ was in Ballina.
More than 400 locals, the surfing community, paramedics and politicians gathered to farewell the 41-year-old father-of-one at Shelly Beach this morning.
Children laid rose petals and frangipanis on the very beach where his mates tried to save him after both his legs were torn off by a great white shark last Monday.
Incense was lit and prayers were softly spoken amid tears. A guitarist played Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a wonderful world”.
Mr Nakahara was clearly loved.
With his parents still on their way to Ballina, his local loved ones spoke of his contagious smile and generous spirit.
“A well-known and respected surfer, a devoted father, he loved and embraced the area for 20 years before settling in Ballina,” friend Kirsty Laing said in a touching tribute.
“He was a chef, a cleaner, a surfboard distributor who chased waves whenever he could squeeze them in. He was always smiling and always respectful of the ocean and his fellow surfer.”
Friend of 16 years Neil Fitzgerald thanked the young men who pulled Mr Nakahara from the surf and tried in vain to save his life. Those young men were held up by loved ones clearly concerned for the shock they had endured.
“Thanks to the life guards and the blokes that were out here with him and Ballina as a whole, you have shown us his family wasn’t overseas, it was here,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Fellow Japanese national and close friend Nitch Tadayuki broke down as he remembered a friend he fought with as much as laughed with.
“I miss him so much, I’m 100 per cent sure his spirit is here today, up in the sky, he was such a loved guy, I miss his smile,” he said.
The beach remained closed for the sixth day in a row after subsequent shark sightings.
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