Friends watched as a man was taken by a shark in what police describe as a ‘‘traumatic and terrifying’’ attack off the South Australian coast.
South Australia Police Senior Constable Mick Abbott said police hold little hope of finding the 28-year-old Adelaide man alive.
The diver was spear fishing with a group of seven friends at Goldsmith Beach, near Edithburgh, on the Yorke Peninsula about noon Saturday when friends saw him dragged away by the shark.
Authorities have been searching since about 1pm, after his friends failed to locate him, but no trace of the man has been found.
‘‘It would have been traumatic and terrifying for his friends,’’ Senior Constable Abbott said.
The group were there ahead of the Yorke Pensinsula Classic, a spear fishing competition which was to be held on Sunday.
‘‘He was spear fishing, so he wasn’t wearing scuba gear, just a wet suit and snorkelling equipment.’’
Senior Constable Abbott said that local State Emergency Services Crews, Sea Rescue, the man’s friends and the local residents were continuing the search for him or his remains.
‘‘They will continue to search until about 8.30pm our time and if they don’t find him will continue to search at first light tomorrow.’’
Police have warned other swimmers between Edithburgh and Port Moorowie to leave the water.
Senior Constable Abbott said this was the first shark sighting in the area this summer.
He said it was a sparsely populated region, well-known for fishing.
source: smh.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 