The diver involved in Thursday’s white shark attack has been identified as 28-year-old Lance Appleby, a local resident and member of a respected local diving family.
On Thursday evening, Appleby was using Granites Beach, southwest of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia when witnesses saw him being attacked by a shark. Following the attack, authorities launched a land, air, and sea search for Appleby. As of Friday, they still haven’t found it.
A few hours before the attack, local fisherman and friend of the Appleby family, Jeff Schmucker, spotted a large shark in the same area, and issued this warning on social media: “We’re alerting all Granites divers today. There is a big, aggressive white that is very close to the Granites/Indicators.”
And after the attack, during the search for Appleby, Schmucker told Apple Australian Associated Press there was “no reason to want anything outside.” Lance’s body is inside the shark and probably not too far away. If they want to do something about it, they should do it now. The fishing industry has the power to issue an order to destroy property, but the government has no balls.”
Great white sharks are a protected species in South Australia with fines of up to $20,000.
Related: Surfer Missing in South Australia After Shark Attack
Back in October of 2023, another diver was attacked and killed while diving at Granites Beach. Tod Gendle, 55, was identified as the victim of the 13-foot white shark attack. In that instance, only Gendle’s surfboard and part of his wet suit were found by search and rescue crews.
As for Appleby, he was a carpenter, surfer, and soccer player. Schmukcker added that he was “a good, playful kid from a great family, with a big heart…definitely loved by all his mates.”
Our condolences go out to the Appleby family and all those affected by this tragedy.
Related: Another Surfer, Another Shark Attack in South Australia