Police have officially given up the search for the body of a missing surfer, two weeks after he died in a shark attack.
Lance Appleby, 28, was mauled by a suspected great white shark near The Granites on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula on January 2.
His body has yet to be recovered from the same beach where another surfer was beaten to death by a great white rooster a year ago.
“The search for missing surfer Lance Appleby has concluded,” South Australia police said in a statement on Monday.
“The South Australian Police would like to express their gratitude to all members of the emergency services, as well as members of the public and volunteers, who have given their time and efforts to assist in the search.
“A report is being prepared for the state coroner.”
Hundreds of surfers, many of whom had a personal connection to Appleby, attended a paddle-out in his honor this weekend.
The crowd gathered at Granites Beach to honor the Streaky Bay surfer, with up to 200 people watching the ceremony from the beach and 150 in the water.
The search for the remains of Lance Appleby (pictured) has been halted
Mr Appleby was mauled by a shark off the Eyre Peninsula while surfing on January 2 (pictured: emergency services prepare to search)
A commemoration will also take place on Monday.
The completed search was a blow to Mr Appleby’s family, who are locals to the Eyre Peninsula, an area known for high shark activity.
Just hours before Appleby was attacked, a fisherman warned locals on social media to watch out for an ‘aggressive’ great white shark at Granite Beach.
“Large whitesighted behaving aggressively near Granites, Streaky Bay,” the fisherman posted on Facebook.
It is unknown whether Mr Appleby was aware of the warning.
In an emotional tribute earlier this month, Mr Appleby’s brother wrote that the family was happy he died ‘doing what he loved’ and will now be ‘forever young, forever surfing, forever loved’.
‘The pain we feel as a family is impossible to describe. We are absolutely devastated and there is a gaping hole in our hearts,” Kenneth Appleby wrote.
“The only comfort we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved, with a bright smile on his face.
It is understood Lance Appleby (pictured) moved to the Gold Coast for work in 2023, but returned to the Eyre Peninsula at Christmas to visit family
“Lance was the best brother we could ever ask for. He was caring, very loyal, compassionate and always up for adventure.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve and was never afraid to express or talk about his emotions.”
The brother added that Appleby “loved sports, traveling, FaceTiming family, coffee, bear hugs, fulfilling his uncle’s duties and most of all, spending time with his friends.”
‘We would give anything to get him back. Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved,” he said.
It is understood Mr Appleby moved to the Gold Coast for work in 2023 but returned to the Eyre Peninsula at Christmas to visit family.
His workshop, Allconstruct Interiors Pty Ltd, shared a tribute to the 28-year-old, writing: ‘RIP to the great young talent Lance Appleby, was a big part of the Allconstruct team last year and became fast friends.’
Mr Appleby’s football club, Marble Range, also paid heartfelt tribute.
“A talented footballer with a heart of gold, who always had a smile on his face or could tell a joke,” the South Australian club said.
Lance Appleby (pictured) is the second surfer in 15 months to be fatally mauled by a shark on The Granites beach
‘An all-round down-to-earth person who was loved by everyone in our community.
“Lance will be greatly missed by everyone, but will forever be part of our history as a member of our 2021 premiership team.”
A GoFundMe as Mr Appleby raised over $93.00 within 24 hours.
The page states that the money would go towards a memorial plaque for Mr Appleby and help ease the financial pressure on his grieving family
Family friend Jeff Schmucker recalled seeing Mr. Appleby dragged underwater by a shark.
“He caught a wave, turned away from the wave and paddled back, and he was attacked,” Mr Schmucker previously said. Seven news.
A man on a jet ski ran out to help Mr Appleby but could only find his board.
“He confirmed that the board had a bite mark on the bottom and the rope had been cut in half,” Mr Schmucker said.
‘Lance (pictured, left) was the best brother we could ever ask for. He was caring, fiercely loyal, compassionate and always up for adventure,” his devastated family said
The local fisherman added that the close-knit community had been hit “so hard” by the attack.
Locals have called for the shark, believed to be a great white, to be hunted.
“If they want to do something about it, they need to do it now,” Schmucker said.
“The fishing industry has the power to issue a destruction order, but the government doesn’t have the balls.”
Appleby’s death follows that of Tod Gendle, who was killed by a four-metre great white shark in October 2023 while surfing at the same beach.