Youth pastor Luke Walford, 40, is being remembered as a “gentle soul” and “loyal friend”.
The tragic series of events unfolded in waters off Humpy Island, in The Keppels, 18km from Yeppoon, yesterday afternoon, leaving the Central Queensland community in mourning.
Walford, an experienced fisherman and school chaplain, was holidaying with friends and family when he was attacked by a shark while spearfishing, leaving him with deep wounds to his neck.
Paramedics travelled to the tropical island by rescue helicopter but he couldn’t be saved.
The death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the many who knew him.
The Sunday morning service at the church where Walford worked as a youth pastor for a decade alongside his wife was today a sombre affair.
Claude Fingleton from the Cathedral Church of Praise said Walford was “just a wonderful man, and in the prime of his life”.
It’s understood Walford’s brother was fishing alongside him.
Police have said that they were doing everything right, taking turns to dive and keeping an eye on each other, but sharks are known to frequent the area.
It is the first fatal attack in Queensland since 2020.