A 15-year-old boy was killed in a shark attack while surfing at Ethel Beach in South Australia’s Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.
The attack occurred around 1:30 pm on December 28, 2023.
Khai Cowley, an Adelaide resident and a promising young surfer, was at Ethel Beach, a site known for its challenging surf and located about 100 miles west of Adelaide.
The beach, surrounded by towering cliffs and notable for the nearby Ethel shipwreck, is a popular spot for surfing, especially during the holiday season.
Cowley had his leg bitten off by the shark. The injured surfer was pulled out of the water by another surfer and immediately attended to by emergency services, but unfortunately, he could not be saved.
The incident has left the surfing community in mourning, with local surfer Luke Sykora expressing the collective grief and shock. He noted the rarity of such attacks in the area despite the known presence of sharks.
Shark expert Andrew Fox suggested that the overcast conditions and the presence of fish near the surf area and slightly murky water might have created an environment conducive to a shark attack.
This fatal attack is the third in South Australia this year, following other incidents in May and October.
In May, school teacher Simon Baccanello was presumed dead after a shark attack at Walkers Rock Beach, roughly 450 miles west of Adelaide.
In October, 55-year-old Tod Gendle was fatally bitten at Granites Beach on the state’s west coast. Both bodies were never recovered.
In addition to the fatal attacks, a 32-year-old woman survived a shark attack at Port Noarlunga Beach near Adelaide in November.
The rise in shark attacks this year has raised concerns and led to precautionary measures, including a temporary ban on school trips to beaches in the state.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Khai’s aunt, Lauryn Barley, to assist the family with funeral expenses.
