News
A 15-year-old boy was killed by a shark in front of his terrified father while the pair were surfing in Australia on Thursday.
Khai Cawley, who has since been described by loved ones as a “talented” surfer, was pulled from the water near Ethel Beach in Ennis National Park after his leg was bitten off by what is believed to be a great white shark.
“I started moving towards the beach and I could see the father on the rocks screaming and his son swimming towards him.” Local surfer Tim Phillip told 7News.
Philip estimated the shark was about 13 feet long.
“Then I started going back out to sea. I was in waist-deep water and I just made the decision to run backwards…chest deep at this point, grab him and manage to drag him to the beach, to the people on the beach.”
“It was just a matter of… I didn't want to see his body in the sea, so I did what I could.”
Paramedics rushed to treat Cowley's injuries, but were ultimately unable to save him.
Ethel Beach, a popular but remote tourist site, is located off the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
The boy was on vacation with his family before he was attacked by a predatory sea animal. According to what was reported by 7 News.
Since then, loved ones have flooded social media with posthumous tributes to the teen.
“A boy with so much potential. He will hold a place in everyone’s heart,” a family friend wrote on social media. Sky News Australia.
Locals have since spoken out about the dangers to wildlife in the area, with one local fisherman saying shark sightings are common along Marion Bay.
“We've seen some very large bronzes in the area, but that's normal here,” he told the local publication. “I went to take the boat and the guards blocked the road to Ethel.”
“There is no cell reception in the park, so we didn't know what happened until we got back to Marion Bay,” he added.
Just two weeks before his tragic death, Cowley – who was ranked 146th in the country's rankings of under-18 surfers – was named 'Best Breakthrough Performer' by local surf club Seaview Road Board Riders.
“Grom” or “grommet” is a term for young surfers under the age of 18.
Surfing South Australia paid tribute to the boy on Thursday in Instagram share.
“We were devastated to learn that a young, talented and much-loved member of our surfing community was the surfer involved in the attack at Ethel Beach, and we were absolutely devastated to learn that the incident was fatal.”
The statement continued: “Our deepest condolences are with his family.” “We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy as they go through such a heartbreaking time.”
The attack follows a series of similar incidents in Australian waters in recent months.
In November, surfer Todd Gendel was killed by a shark near Streaky Bay – just north of Marion Bay.
The 55-year-old was paddling in the water with a group of surfers when a shark knocked him off his surfboard, then “hit him and knocked him underwater”.
In October, Pam Cook suffered leg injuries when she was attacked by a shark while swimming near a jetty in Beachport.
Australia has more shark attacks than any other country — except the United States, according to International shark attack file (ISAF).
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