Surfer’s final moments before fatal shark attack revealed as search for body continues after shredded surfboard found
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THE final moments of a missing surfer believed to have died in a horror shark attack have been revealed. A desperate search for the body of Lance Appleby, 28, has been launched after he vanished on Thursday night - with onlookers saying they saw him being attacked in the water.
![[Lance Appleby is believed to have died in a shark attack in South Australia]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/victim-fatal-shark-attack-south-961390383.jpg?strip=all&w=232)
Police later confirmed they found a shredded surfboard belonging to the popular Australian surfer. Appleby was playing around in the sea at the popular The Granites beach, near the coastal town of Streaky Bay on the fateful evening. At around 7:10pm horrified witnesses say they noticed a figure approaching him in the water.
![[The 28-year-old was surfing when he was dragged under the water, say witnesses]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a41b4bd5-882b-43e6-894b-8f13cd58af56.jpg?strip=all&w=480)
Jeff Schumucker, a family friend of the victim who saw the ordeal as it unfolded, gave a harrowing recount of the surfer's final moments. He told 7NEWS: “He caught a wave and flipped off the wave and proceeded to paddle back, and he was attacked.". A frantic search for the man saw several witnesses jump onto jet skis to scare away any potential killers.
![[Appleby –was a frequent surfer around The Granite beach]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/010a26a1-5e8d-47c4-87ff-a2b89b89eb8a.jpg?strip=all&w=627)
Others stayed on the beach and called the cops. The of the search party then discovered a surf board which had a chunk taken out of it shortly after the attack, a South Australia Police spokesperson confirmed. Local Schumucker said he saw the mangled board along with a ruined set of ropes as it was bought back to shore.
![[Tributes have started to pour in for Appleby]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/victim-fatal-shark-attack-south-961390382.jpg?strip=all&w=526)
