Lance Appleby remembered by family and friends in Streaky Bay memorial service

Friends and family gathered in Streaky Bay to celebrate the life of Lance Appleby, the 28-year-old who was fatally mauled by a shark earlier this month.

A surfer taken by a shark near Streaky Bay has been remembered as a “caring, sensitive soul” who “always had a smile on his face” in a memorial service on Monday.

Friends and family of Lance Appleby packed out The Institute Streaky Bay on Monday to pay tribute 11 days after he was fatally mauled by a great white shark off the Granites on the Eyre Peninsula.

The service included tributes from Mr Appleby’s friends and family from across Australia, with several flying in from the Gold Coast, where Mr Appleby had been living since 2023.

“We had such a profound, special relationship,” one said.

“He was such a caring, sensitive soul, I admired how he wore his heart on his sleeve.”

Friends and family packed out The Institute Streaky Bay on Monday to pay tribute to Lance Appleby. Picture: Supplied

It comes after surfers held a ‘Paddle-Out’ memorial on Saturday to honour the 28-year-old. Picture: Mark Thomas

A common theme throughout the memorial was Mr Appleby’s passion for surfing, footy, and his mates.

“The way he lived life was also the way he played footy … really fearlessly,” a friend said.

“I’ve got a huge hole in my heart right now, and it’s a void that might never be filled.”

Mr Appleby’s partner said he was “forever putting the needs of others before his own”.

“I loved his endless patience,” she said.

“I admired his ambition and drive, I enjoyed his goofy sense of humour, which never failed to make me laugh.”

Four of Mr Appleby’s siblings took to the stage for the final tribute of the service, tears following as they spoke of their “baby” brother.

Younger sister Harriet said her bond with her brother was “something else”.

“My heart was always so full of happiness on the beach trips with you and your mates,” she said.

“I love reading the beautiful, kind words everyone has to say about you.”

“It was an honour to be your brother,” Kenneth Appleby said.

Police announced on Monday that they had concluded the search for Mr Appleby’s body. Picture: Dean Martin

“I cherished every moment we spent together, I just wish there was more.”

“There’s now a piece of our family missing forever,” sister Esther said.

“We adored you Lance, we will always miss you.”

Eldest sister Marilla closed out the service with an emotional speech.

“Rest easy my little brother, you’ll always be our ‘Lancey boy’”, she said.

The memorial service came on the same day that the now-scaled down search for Mr Appleby concluded.

“South Australia Police would like to extend their gratitude to all emergency service members, as well as the public and volunteers, who dedicated their time and efforts to assist in the search,” a statement from SAPOL read.

The search for the 28-year-old began when he was last seen on Thursday January 2, around 6:30pm, during a surf at Granites Beach.

Authorities, including water operations, STAR teams, marine rescue, and local SES, worked tirelessly to retrieve Mr Appleby, however, only his surfboard has been found.

Mr Appleby’s body has not been recovered, and a report is being prepared for the State Coroner.

Originally published as Lance Appleby remembered by family and friends in Streaky Bay memorial service