Family, friends and strangers have raised more than $100,000 in a bid to help farewell a surfer believed to have been taken by a shark in South Australia.
Lance Appleby, 28, was attacked by a shark at Granites beach, near Streaky Bay, just before 7pm on Thursday.
A GoFundMe campaign for Appleby created over the weekend has so far collected over $101,000. The money raised will go towards a memorial, a plaque, and to help ease the family’s financial burdens following the loss.
The keen surfer was a much-loved brother, son and friend, the GoFundMe stated.
“No matter where Lance lived or worked, he always made deep connections within the local community and formed lifelong friendships. He was the kind of person everyone wanted to hang out with.
“He loved sports, travelling, FaceTiming family, coffees, bear hugs, fulfilling his uncle duties, and most of all, spending time with his mates.”
The search Appleby’s body was called off yesterday.
Earlier, his brother Kenneth Appleby paid tribute to him online.
“The pain we are feeling as a family is impossible to describe,” he wrote.
“We are absolutely devastated, and there is a gaping hole in our hearts.
“The only solace we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved with a beaming smile on his face.
“Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved.”
His former Football Club Marble Range described Appleby as having “a heart of gold, who always had a smile on his face, and adored within our community”.
