A local surfer is missing on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. A 46-year-old local teacher and surfer, Simon Baccanello, paddled out at Walkers Rock beach on Saturday morning but never came in. While in the water, he was attacked by a shark some 30 to 50 meters offshore. Emergency services were called and boats and jet skis scoured the water, searching for Baccanello.
“There were obviously several people in the water and from what I can hear there were witnesses that saw evidence of the attack,” Streaky Bay State Emergency Service unit manager Tevlyn Smith told ABC News. “It was fairly close to the shore I believe.”
“We were told that they had recovered the surfboard, by [a searcher on] a Jet Ski as I understand, and then that was transferred onto one of the local vessels. We’ve got a missing person, they’ve already got the surfboard…we’re just looking for anything that relates to [that] person.”
Baccanello was a well-loved member of the community and countless people have joined the search for him. As of now, he is believed to be dead.
“In our short time at our school, and in our community (and in schools around the world), he had a sincerely positive impact on us all,” Elliston Area School principal Chad Fleming said in a statement. “With his dedication to education and an enthusiastic and positive approach to learning and life, Simon showed care and respect to everyone. He was an avid surfer and absolutely loved living the Elliston lifestyle, being a keen fisherman too.”
Our condolences to the Baccanello family.
