Surfer Lance Appleby remembered after fatal shark attack

Tight-knit footy and Eyre Peninsula communities have been left shattered after a fatal shark attack claimed the life of a beloved 28-year-old surfer.

• ‘Absolutely tragic’: Surfer confirmed dead

A tight-knit football community has been left “completely devastated” by the death of champion player Lance Appleby, the 28-year-old surfer killed in a shark attack off the Eyre Peninsula.

Mr Appleby, who was visiting his hometown for the holidays when tragedy struck, has been remembered as an “all-round good bloke and bloody champion man”.

The Port Lincoln local was surfing off an area known as Granites, at the Westall Way Loop at Westall, about 7.10pm on Thursday evening when he was attacked by a shark.

Mr Appleby was well known in the Eyre Peninsula community, having attended Streaky Bay Area School, played football for Marble Range Football Club and worked for a time at the local bakery.

The Advertiser understands Mr Appleby had permanently moved to the Gold Coast at the start of 2023, where he played for Tweed Coast Tigers football club, which is based in New South Wales.

Fatal shark attack victim Lance Appleby. Picture: Supplied by family

Mr Appleby was a beloved member of the local community. Picture: Facebook

Tweed Coast Tigers president Andrew Ryan said Mr Appleby had intended to continue playing for the club next season as vice-captain of the team, with the footy community left reeling after his death.

“His professionalism and work ethic were noticeable from the very start,” Mr Ryan said.

“Not only was he a massively important part of our backline with his playing attributes, his football brain and the knowledge he passed onto his teammates was second to none.”

“More importantly than his football skill was the fact that he was an all round good bloke – a bloody champion man.”

Mr Ryan said Mr Appleby’s tremendous character won him recognition among the team.

“Lance missed 6 games this last season but still managed to be the equal winner in our Best and Fairest (and) he was to be named vice-captain this coming season,” Mr Ryan said.

“His teammates and the whole Tweed Coast Tigers community are completely devastated by his passing and pass on our condolences, love and prayers to his family.”

The search continues for surfer Lance Appleby’s body at Streaky Bay. Picture Dean Martin

Lance Appleby was a talented footballer and basketballer. Picture: Facebook

Hours prior to Thursday’s incident, multiple reports of a shark in the area had been shared online, with local fisherman Jeff Schmucker warning on Thursday afternoon of a “large great white” acting “aggressively” near Granites beach.

Mr Schmucker told 7NEWS witnesses to the attack saw Mr Appleby – who was surfing with a large group – flipped off a wave before being dragged underwater while swimming back to his board.

Following the attack, police said a local on a jet ski went to the site of the incident and retrieved Mr Appleby’s board with “part of a leg rope and a bite out of (it)” – but found no other trace of the missing surfer.

Mr Schmucker paid tribute to Mr Appleby on FIVEAA on Friday afternoon, calling him an “astute surfer”.

“He was a well-liked young man and aspiring surfer as well,” Mr Schmucker said.

“He was good surfer and knew the water, loved the coast and the ocean.”

Mr Schmucker said sightings of great whites in the area had increased, labelling that and the number of surfers out on the water as a “recipe for disaster”.

On Friday morning, Assistant Police Commissioner John De Candia confirmed that a report was being prepared for the coroner over Mr Appleby’s death.

“It’s a very sad, tragic circumstance for the family,” he said.

“Any death in these circumstances is absolutely tragic.”

The search for Mr Appleby’s body was suspended on Friday evening, with foot, sky and sea operations all stood down until Saturday morning.

In a heartbreaking tribute, three sunflowers were left at the entrance to a nearby beach.

Mr Appleby’s body is yet to be recovered.

Police said the search would resume with only foot and sea patrols on Saturday morning, with the beach to remain closed overnight.

A local told The Advertiser several sharks had since been spotted in the water since the attack on Thursday night.

The “full scale” search, according to police, would continue for the coming days.

Originally published as Surfer Lance Appleby remembered after fatal shark attack