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A 40-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark on the edge of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, local police said.<\/p>\n
Luke Walford, a youth pastor, had been spearfishing with his family when he was bitten on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
He sustained “life-threatening injuries” and despite paramedics’ efforts, he died at the scene about an hour later, authorities said.<\/p>\n
He and his family had been in the water at Humpy Island, in the Great Barrier Reef’s Keppel Bay Islands National Park, when the attack happened. The area is a popular spot for diving and snorkelling. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Walford had been a school chaplain and pastor at the Cathedral of Praise church in Rockhampton, Queensland.<\/p>\n
Donna Kirkland, his local MP, said she was in shock, and that Walford was a friend to her and “countless others.”<\/p>\n
“My prayers and heartfelt condolences are with his beautiful family and indeed the many who will be devastated, as I am, at this news”, she added.<\/p>\n
A family friend told ABC News he had watched the rescue helicopter fly over his house, unaware it was for his friend.<\/p>\n
“I always say a little tribute for whoever it may be, but to find out it was Luke was a very sad day,” Doug Webber said.<\/p>\n
Queensland police said a report would be prepared for the coroner.<\/p>\n
Australia’s last fatal shark attack happened in December 2023, when a teenage boy was killed in the south<\/a>.<\/p>\n Just this year, there have been four other shark incidents in Australia, according to a local database.<\/p>\n In general, Australia sees more shark attacks than any other country except the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n