A young man who was mauled to death by a shark has been remembered as a “fiercely loyal, compassionate and caring” person by his devastated family.
The search for Lance Appleby, 28, is about to enter its fourth day after he was attacked by a suspected great white shark off Granites Beach, about 700 kilometers from Adelaide, shortly after 7pm on Thursday. .
His family said Appleby, one of seven children, died “doing what he loved” and will now be “forever young, forever surfing, forever loved.”
‘The pain we feel as a family is impossible to describe. “We are absolutely devastated and there is a huge hole in our hearts,” read a social media post from the victim’s brother, Kenneth Appleby.
‘The only comfort we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved, with a radiant smile on his face.
‘Lance was the best brother we could ask for. He was loving, fiercely loyal, compassionate, and always up for an adventure.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve and was never afraid to express his emotions or talk about them.”
The heartfelt social media post, first revealed by The advertiserrevealed that Appleby was loved by both his family and his wide circle of friends.
Experienced surfer Lance Appleby, 28 (pictured), was attacked by a shark at Granites Beach, about 700 kilometers from Adelaide, shortly after 7pm on Thursday.
His family said Appleby, who was one of seven children, died “doing what he loved” and will now be “forever young, forever surfing, forever loved” (pictured: a haunting photo of Mr Appleby in the waves several years ago, surrounded by what appeared to be dolphins)
“He loved sports, traveling, FaceTiming family, coffees, bear hugs, doing his uncle’s duties, and most of all, spending time with his teammates,” she said.
‘We’d give anything to have him back. Always young, always surfing, always loved.’
A GoFundMe page has also been set up with money going “for a memorial, plaque and family financial burdens.”
So far it has raised more than $52,000 in less than six hours.
It comes as family friend Jeff Schmucker recalled MR Appleby’s horrific final moments, when it was revealed he was dragged underwater by a great white shark.
“He caught a wave, came off it and proceeded to paddle backwards, and was attacked,” Mr. Schmucker previously said. 7NEWS.
A man on a jet ski ran out to help Mr Appleby but could only find his board.
“He confirmed that the board had a bite mark on the underside and that the rope was cut in half,” Mr Schmucker said.
‘Lance (pictured, left) was the best brother we could ask for. “He was loving, fiercely loyal, compassionate and always up for an adventure,” his devastated family said.
The local fisherman said the attack had hit the close-knit community “very hard”.
A fisherman alerted locals about an “aggressive” great white shark at Granite Beach on social media just hours before Appleby was attacked.
It is not known whether Appleby was aware of the warning.
Deputy Police Commissioner John De Candia confirmed on Friday that a report would be prepared for the coroner as the search for Appleby’s body continues.
“It is a very sad and tragic circumstance for the family,” he said at a press conference.
‘Any such incident, such a tragedy, affects a wide range of people… immediate family, friends, work colleagues, colleagues, it affects the police (and) other emergency services who had to attend as well.
“Any death, in these circumstances, is absolutely tragic and has a huge impact on many people.”
Locals are calling for the shark to be hunted in lieu of Mr Appleby’s death.
“If they want to do something about it, they should do it now,” Mr. Schmucker said.
“The fishery has the power to issue a destruction order, but the government has no guts.”
Desperate search continues for Appleby’s body after horrific shark attack
Mr Appleby was a keen surfer and played for Marble Range Football Club.
He had traveled to Europe just several months before the attack and posted photographs on Facebook of his visits to London and Amsterdam.
The search for Appleby follows the death of Tod Gendle, who was killed by a four-metre great white shark while surfing at the same beach in October 2023.
Schmucker, who raced on a jet ski to try to save the surfer, said he saw Gendle being dragged underwater by the huge shark.
Schmucker said he was attacked and surrounded several times by a “large female” shark.