Man dies after shark attack off Queensland coast

A youth pastor and school chaplain described as an inspirational leader has been identified as the man killed by a shark while fishing with family off the central Queensland coast on Saturday.

Luke Walford, from Rockhampton, suffered significant injuries when he was bitten on the neck about 4.30pm while fishing at Humpy Island, within the Keppel island group off the coast of Rockhampton.

Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards, but Queensland Police said the 40-year-old succumbed to his injuries about 6pm.

Luke Walford, 40, was killed by a shark off the central Queensland coast on Saturday. Credit: Facebook

Walford was a youth pastor at the Cathedral of Praise Church, and a school chaplain at Heights College in Rockhampton.

The Queensland Member for Rockhampton, Donna Kirkland, said he was a “wonderful man” lost in tragic circumstances.

“A family friend, not only to my own family but countless others, he was an inspirational leader as a children’s and youth pastor,” she said in a statement.

“My prayers and heartfelt condolences are with his beautiful family and, indeed, the many who will be devastated, as I am, at this news.”

The local member for Keppel, Nigel Hutton, also sent his condolences, saying: “The thoughts and prayers of our community go out to the Walford family.”

Police said they were in the process of preparing a report for the coroner.

The death comes after a man in his 60s was bitten off Curtis Island – about 30 kilometres south of Humpy Island – earlier in the month while spear fishing.

In October, a 57-year-old woman was bitten off the coast of Mackay, enduring an eight-hour journey to a mainland hospital after being retrieved by a nearby naval vessel.

In both instances, bystanders provided first aid, and the injuries were to the victims’ limbs.

With AAP

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