South Australia’s west coast locals warning about sharks with makeshift signs

Surfers are taking shark safety matters into their own hands on SA’s west coast, weeks after one of their own was killed in nearby waters.

Surfers have taken to making their own signs for other swimmers on the west coast of SA.

Locals along the West Coast of the state have taken to warning one another about sharks in the water with makeshift placards after multiple fatal attacks in South Australia since 2023.

Posted to the West Coast S.A SHARK ALERT Facebook page on Tuesday, a ripped piece of a cardboard box had a warning at the entrance of the popular surfing spot, Cactus Beach near Penong.

“SHARK Sighting!!! … 1pm Caves,” it read.

“The 14th of Jan — please let people know. Thank you.”

A makeshift warning for surfer and swimmers at the entrance of Cactus Beach on the state; s West Coast.

People commenting on the post were thankful for the sign, saying such warnings had the potential to save a life.

“Spotted this sign too at the Cactus Beach entrance. Thank you to whoever did the signs,” one person commented.

“Good that someone has done this … Might save a life,” another said.

Others commenting on the post suggested that more needed to be done to warn surfers and swimmers before going into the ocean.

“There ought to be some kind of facility at the location to give notice rather than relying on people to do this,” one social media user said.

“A whiteboard or logbook was what I was thinking.”

Shark sightings are becoming more common in SA with locals warning each other.

“All the beaches should have like a chalkboard or some sort of way so people can notify others,” they commented.

“Because not everyone has the equipment on them to do this and like yeah it’s great to post online but not everyone uses FB (Facebook).”

The state’s west coast from Elliston to Streaky Bay, and the Yorke Peninsula has experienced numerous shark attacks, both fatal and non-fatal since 2023.

On January 2, 28-year-old Lance Appleby was killed in a shark attack at Granites Beach just outside of Streaky Bay.

Mr Appleby was killed near the same place as 55-year-old surfer Tod Gendle, who was taken by a great white shark in October 2023.

Just two months later, 15-year-old surfer Khai Cowley was killed near Ethel Beach off the state’s Yorke Peninsula.

In May 2023 Elliston school teacher Simon Baccanello was killed at Walkers Rock.

Originally published as South Australia’s west coast locals warning about sharks with makeshift signs