South Australian authorities are conducting an extensive search for a missing surfer, following a suspected shark attack off Granites Beach, located south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. The incident took place on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday morning, emergency services were still actively searching for the surfer’s body.
The victim, a 55-year-old man whose identity has not been disclosed, was part of a group of approximately a dozen surfers in the water at the time of the attack. Witnesses reported that around 10:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday, they observed a shark attacking the surfer, leading authorities to believe that the surfer succumbed to the attack.
Local and regional police, along with state emergency services and dedicated volunteers, initiated search efforts on Tuesday, which continued into Wednesday. Eyewitnesses shared harrowing accounts of the attack, with one describing how the shark grabbed the surfer, repeatedly submerging him in the water.
Surfer Jeff Schmucker, who went out on a jet ski to locate the victim, was instead met with a chilling sight: a great white shark measuring over 13 feet in length and a surfboard marked by a bite. Expressing doubts about the ongoing search, Schmucker suggested that the surfer’s body might be inside the shark.
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The area in question has a reputation for shark presence, with several commercial shark tour diving companies operating along the coast. The search for the missing surfer underscores the inherent risks associated with water activities in regions known for shark activity.