The family of a man believed to have been killed by a great white shark at a South Australian surfing spot have thanked authorities and volunteers for their “dedicated efforts” in the days since the tragedy. Tod Gendle was surfing at Granites Beach, south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, when he was attacked on Tuesday morning. Despite a massive emergency response and immediate search, only parts of his board and a piece of his wetsuit have reportedly been recovered. The search continues.
2m great white was spotted in the water shortly after a Gendle disappeared at the popular break. Local surfer Jeff Schmucker was about to get into the water when he heard the commotion. “All the kids were on the rocks waving at me and yelling and I knew there was something wrong well before we even got there,” he told ABC Radio. Schmucker jumped on his jetski and rode to the spot where Gendle had been surfing.