By Adrian Black and Lachlan Abbott
A missing surfer is believed to have been killed in a shark attack at a popular South Australian surf spot as a police search continues.
Police said multiple surfers had witnessed a shark attack a 46-year-old Elliston man at Walkers Rock Beach, about 365 kilometres west of Adelaide, as the crow flies, on the Eyre Peninsula.
The incident occurred near a reef break popular with surfers.
Police, SES and locals have been searching for the man after the incident was reported about 10.10am (10.40am AEST) on Saturday.
SA Police announced on Saturday afternoon they believed the surfer had been killed, but were yet to find his body.
No one else was injured in the attack.
Walkers Rock Beach is seven kilometres north of Elliston, which has a population of just under 400 people and is a seven-hour drive from Adelaide.
Superintendent Paul Bahr, who is in charge of Eyre and Western district, thanked other emergency services and locals for helping with the search.
“It’s not easy when it’s a local involved, but we commend their strength and their want to assist,” he said.
“We will continue to search with the assistance of local emergency services and other resources.”
Cliffs near the remote town of Elliston in South Australia.Credit: David Solm
The last suspected fatal shark attack in South Australia occurred in 2021, when Warrnambool father Duncan Craw disappeared while snorkelling in waters near Port MacDonnell, close to the Victorian border.
A damaged wetsuit was later found and officers on a police helicopter spotted a shark in the area.
With AAP
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