Missing surfer Lance Appleby, who is believed to have been attacked by a shark, has been remembered as “forever young” as a search for him ends.
Police said on Monday the search for the 28-year-old’s body had officially come to an end 12 days after he first went missing. Search efforts were scaled down on January 5 and then came to an end just eight days later.
Police praised emergency services and volunteers who helped during the extensive search. A memorial for Lance was held on Monday at a hall in Streaky Bay, South Australia., close to where he grew up.
A surfboard was placed next to an image of Lance with friends and family paying tribute to his “extraordinary life,” news.com.au reported. Family friend Kayla Window said Lance had a “zest for life” and that he longed for adventure in the outdoors.
On a GoFundMe page for the Appleby family she added: “Quiet by nature, Lance touched many people’s lives very deeply.” The campaign has raised $118,362 AUD (£60,013) since it was launched on January 6.
Kayla Petty, who organised the fundraiser, added: “The pain the family is feeling is impossible to describe. They are absolutely devastated, and there is a gaping hole in their hearts. The only solace we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved, with a beaming smile on his face.
“No matter where Lance lived or worked, he always made deep connections within the local community and formed lifelong friendships. He was the kind of person everyone wanted to hang out with. He loved sports, travelling, FaceTiming family, coffees, bear hugs, fulfilling his uncle duties, and most of all, spending time with his mates. Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved.”
Money raised via the fundraiser was said to be going toward a memorial, plaque and to ease the family’s financial burdens. Lance was last seen on January 2 when locals observed him being attacked by a shark.
Jeff Schumaker, a family friend, said that Lance “caught a wave and flipped off the wave and proceeded to paddle back, and that he was attacked. Lance had been in the Eyre Peninsula as part of a family visit to the region for Christmas.
His brother Kenneth said in a January 4 post that he and other relatives were experiencing “impossible pain.” He said: “On Thursday evening, we received the tragic news that our much-loved brother Lance had been taken by a Great White Shark while surfing at Granites (beach).
“The only solace we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved, with a beaming smile on his face. Lance was the best brother we could ever ask for. He was caring, fiercely loyal, compassionate, and always up for an adventure. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was never afraid to express his emotions or talk about them.
“We would give anything to have him back.”
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