Khai Cowley, 15, was killed while surfing at Ethel Beach, about 160 kilometres west of Adelaide on the tip of the Yorke Peninsula, after a white pointer shark attacked at about 1.30pm yesterday.
His body was recovered from the water.
“I don’t know what to make of it,” surfer Luke Winter said.
“I was pretty rattled last night, it’s too close to home really”.
The water was empty today on a beach normally busy with holidaymakers at this time of year.
There were flowers and moments of quiet reflection from friends and strangers alike.
“I couldn’t imagine what it would be like for the family, it’s such a tragic story,” tourist Douglas Hadden said
The talented teen was only weeks ago awarded the title of outstanding grom by his Southern Adelaide Surf Club.
He is the third generation of his family to be a member.
The Seaview Road Board Riders said the death left members in disbelief.
“Khai was a standout. He helped the little groms, made their trainings fun and they all looked up to him,” the statement said.
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“You will live on in our hearts and memories, once a Roader, always a Roader.
“We will all miss you so much and will keep shredding for you.”
Locals said Ethel Beach is considered a challenging break, even for experienced surfers, with Ethel’s Ledge said to be one of the best spots in the state on a good surf day
“It wasn’t very good yesterday,” Sean Hanna said.
“It was basically white water surf but his love was such that he wanted to be part of that.”
It’s a love that the surfing community understands and it’s rallied around Khai’s family in droves.
A fundraiser launched this morning had already reached more than five times its target by mid-afternoon.
Khai is the third surfer lost to a shark attack off South Australia in less than a year.
“Sharks are out there, we know that they’re out there, it just sucks when it happens,” Winter said.
