The 15-year-old boy who died after a shark attack on a remote beach on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula has been identified by friends and family as talented surfer Khai Cowley – while the small town where the attack took place sways in shock.
Cowley was surfing with his father at Ethel Beach around 1:30 p.m. Thursday when he was attacked. His aunt, Lauryn Barley, identified the 15-year-old in a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral costs. Barley, who Cowley described as “the most beautiful soul soon to be taken from us,” added that her nephew is suspected of being abused by a great white.
It is believed the shark ripped off the boy's leg while the father watched. The couple lived just a few hours away in the town of Seaford.
“The shark took his leg and so another local ran out, jumped on his board and paddled out to help him,” a witness told the Adelaide Advertiser. “The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood. He got him to shore, but I think it was too late by then.”
Rescue workers rushed to reach the difficult-to-access beach but were ultimately unable to save the boy and his body was recovered from the water, South Australia Police confirmed.
Local surfer Luke Sykora told Australia's ABC News Radio that despite a number of shark sightings over the years, “this is the first fatal attack we've ever experienced down here.”
Another local, Ryan Valente, told ABC Radio Adelaide the city was in shock.
“This is the stuff nightmares are made of,” he said. “I have some friends in the area who have been here since the last day and when I talk to them, they can't even recall anything remotely resembling an event like this.”
Cowley's surfing skills have been highlighted in a series of tributes written in the teenager's honor. Surfing South Australia said he was “very involved in our surfing community as his passion for surfing comes from a family with deep surfing roots in South Africa.”
“Following the devastating news that one of our Grom surfers, Khai, was involved in a fatal incident at Ethel Beach on December 28, we have kept Khai's family and friends in our thoughts,” Surfing South Australia said in a statement on Friday Facebook , links to the GoFundMe page and encourages people to donate.
“Khai was very involved in our surfing community and his passion for surfing came from a family with deep surfing roots in South Africa. He was a happy, friendly and respectful boy who was much loved by his fellow surfers and he will be greatly missed in our community and on the water.”
The Seaview Road Board Riders Club, of which Cowley was a member, wrote that they were “in disbelief and devastated at the loss of our grandfather Khai,” adding that he was a third-generation “roader” following in his grandfather's footsteps kick uncle.
They added that Cowley had “surfed his last rally” just a few days ago and described him as “shining on the day and as always with a helping hand.” He was named Outstanding Artist of 2023.
“He was a true club man, a roader through and through, and the club was proud to award him the Outstanding Grom Performer Award for 2023,” the post reads.
“He was a standout. He helped the little ones, made their training fun and everyone looked up to him. Khai was one of our best groms and was scheduled to represent the club at the Boardriders Battle in March. We will surf for you with all our heart and soul, Khai. You will live on in our hearts and memories, once a Roader, always a Roader. Put the skull and crossbones up there. You will all be missed and we will continue to shred for you.”
Port Noarlunga Football Club, of which Cowley was a member, said it was “heartbroken to hear of the death of our own Khai Cowley”.
The club said Cowley and his family “have been part of our community for many years and we are absolutely devastated to hear this news.”