A 40-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark on the fringe of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, native police mentioned.
Luke Walford, a youth pastor, was spearfishing along with his household when he was bitten Saturday afternoon.
He suffered “life-threatening accidents” and, regardless of the efforts of paramedics, died on the scene about an hour later, authorities mentioned.
He and his household had been within the water at Humpy Island in Keppel Bay Islands National Park on the Great Barrier Reef when the assault occurred. The space is a well-liked spot for diving and snorkeling.
Walford had been a faculty chaplain and pastor on the Cathedral of Praise Church in Rockhampton, Queensland.
Donna Kirkland, his native MP, mentioned she was in shock and that Walford was a good friend of hers and “numerous others”.
“My prayers and deepest condolences exit to his stunning household and to the numerous who shall be devastated, as I’m, by this information,” he added.
A household good friend informed ABC News that he noticed the rescue helicopter flying over his home, unaware that it was for his good friend.
“I all the time say a little bit tribute to whoever it’s, however discovering out it was Luke was a really unhappy day,” Doug Webber mentioned.
Queensland Police mentioned a report can be ready for the coroner.
The final deadly shark assault in Australia occurred in December 2023, when a teenager was killed in the south.
Just this 12 months there have been 4 different shark incidents in Australia, in line with an area database.
Overall, Australia is dwelling to extra shark assaults than every other nation besides the United States.
