Australian Surfer Believed Killed in Shark Attack at Granites Beach

Lance Appleby, 28, went missing after a shark attack witnessed by locals, sparking a recovery operation and community tributes.

Lance Appleby, a 28-year-old surfer from Port Lincoln, is presumed dead after being attacked by a shark while surfing at Granites Beach, South Australia, on Thursday evening.
Witnesses reported seeing the attack, and a jet skier bravely retrieved Appleby’s surfboard, which showed clear signs of shark damage, though his body has not been found.
Granites Beach, a known hotspot for great white sharks, remains closed as authorities conduct air, land, and sea searches to recover Appleby’s remains.
The local community and Appleby’s former football clubs have expressed deep grief and shared tributes, describing him as a beloved figure with a positive spirit.
The incident adds to a recent increase in shark-related fatalities in South Australia, with experts noting a cluster of attacks in the area over the past two years.