Hundreds gather to remember the life of shark attack victim, Lance Appleby

The life of a 28-year-old surfer killed in a shark attack on the Eyre Peninsula has been remembered with a special paddle-out with hundreds taking to the water to remember their friend. SEE THE PHOTOS.

Memorial to honour the life of Lance Appleby, the Streaky Bay surfer who was taken by a great white off Granites Beach. Picture: Mark Thomas

Three hundred mourners gathered at Granites in Streaky Bay to remember the life of Lance Appleby who was killed in a shark attack on December 30.

The 28-year-old surfer was attacked at about 7:10pm in the same area near the Westall Way Loop at Westall.

Sadly, after search efforts, Mr Appleby’s body has not been recovered.

Lance Appleby, 28, who is believed to have been fatally attacked by a shark on December 30 while surfing near Granites beach, south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Facebook

Around a hundred of Mr Appleby’s friends and family took to the water in a commemorative paddle-out, with close mate, Leroy Johnson calling his friend “a special person”.

“He was such a special human to us and such a special person to the whole West Coast community,” Mr Johnson said.

“(Mr Appleby) grew up next door, (we) did everything together.

“Our lives have gone in different directions, but we always seem to find each other in different parts of Australia.”

Memorial to honour the life of Lance Appleby, the Streaky Bay surfer who was taken by a great white off Granites Beach. Picture: Mark Thomas

Mr Johnson said the pair had enjoyed surfing with each other through their teenage years and reflected on memories of these times together.

“Every summer holiday we would always be so excited to come back here and link up and share the ocean together,” he said.

The large crowd at Granites on Saturday was no surprise to Mr Johnson who said his friend was an “amazing human” who touched the lives of many.

Memorial to honour the life of Lance Appleby, the Streaky Bay surfer who was taken by a great white off Granites Beach. Picture: Mark Thomas

“(It’s a) total respect to the character he was, he just made everyone feel larger and better and bigger and you could almost feel that everyone today was making each other feel that exact same sort of emotional feeling.

“And that’s just the legacy and mark he leaves behind.”

Originally published as Hundreds gather to remember the life of shark attack victim, Lance Appleby