Shark attack in Australia! Young surfer (28) attacked and dragged into the open sea

Streaky Bay (Australia) - Terrible tragedy at Granites Beach. A young surfer was attacked by a shark on his home beach in South Australia and dragged into the open sea. The chances of finding the 28-year-old alive are nil.

All that was left of Lance Appleby was his surfboard, which was completely chewed up ...

It was a dramatic scene that unfolded on Granites Beach on the Eyre Peninsula (South Australia) on Thursday.

According to what is known, Lance Appleby, who grew up in the area and is considered an extremely experienced surfer, wanted to end the day at the beach.

"He caught a wave, threw himself away from it and paddled back," eyewitness Jeff Schmucker told 7news. Then the shark struck, Lance was ripped off the surfboard and pushed underwater. It happened in a flash.

Friends rushed to help with the jet ski, but all that was left of the 28-year-old was his completely shredded surfboard, which was found floating alone on the water almost 1500 meters from the shore. There has been no trace of the young carpenter ever since.

Two days after the disturbing incident, relatives no longer believe in a miracle.

"The pain we feel as a family is indescribable," the 9news channel quotes Kenneth Appleby, the brother of the missing man. "We are completely devastated and there is a gaping hole in our hearts."

An online fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe platform raised almost 70,000 Australian dollars (42,000 euros) for the bereaved. "The only comfort we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved with a beaming smile on his face," wrote his surfer friend Kayla Petty on the platform.

And added: "Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved." - "Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved."

It is still unclear which species of shark was the 28-year-old's undoing. However, local residents report that great white sharks have been repeatedly spotted near the beach in recent days.

Meanwhile, the search for the 28-year-old's remains continues. The coastguard is searching the ocean with drones and helpers are combing the beach for traces. The dream beach on the South Australian coast remains closed until further notice.