A tragic incident occurred on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula when a teenage boy lost his life after being attacked by a shark while surfing with his father. The victim, identified as 15-year-old Khai Cowley, was described as a young boy with a passion for the water and a kind and respectful nature.

The fatal attack took place around 1.30pm on Thursday at Ethel Beach, near Innes National Park. It is believed that Khai was bitten on the leg during the incident.

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Emergency services faced difficulty accessing the beach due to its remote location. Ambulance crews managed to retrieve the boy’s body from the water.

Following the tragic incident, friends of the avid surfer expressed their grief on social media, with one friend mentioning Khai’s immense potential and the void his absence has left in their hearts.

Khai’s aunt, Lauryn Barley, has set up a fundraiser to assist with the funeral expenses and described her nephew as having a beautiful soul, taken from them too soon.

According to Barley’s post, Khai was attacked by a white pointer, commonly referred to as a great white shark. She appealed for donations to support her sister Kate and brother Tim in covering the funeral costs.

The surfing community in South Australia also paid tribute to Khai, describing him as a happy, kind, and respectful kid who was deeply loved by his peers. They expressed their condolences to his family and friends and emphasized his active involvement in the local surfing community.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with funeral expenses, and the community has already raised over $10,000. Khai was on a holiday with his family at the time of the attack.

This tragic incident adds to a series of serious shark bites in recent months. In October, a 55-year-old man named Tod Gendle lost his life in a shark attack at Granites Beach on the West Coast of the state. Another tragic incident occurred in May when 46-year-old teacher Simon Baccanello disappeared while surfing at Walkers Rock Beach, located approximately 365km west of Adelaide.