A father watched in h*rror as his 15-year-old son, a keen surfer, was k!lled by a 13-foot shark at a popular Australian beach. Khai Cowley was pulled from the water at Ethel Beach last December, following the attack at Innes National Park, which deeply shocked the local community.
Witnesses said the shark b!t off Khai’s leg while his father, in utter disbelief, looked on.
The father had taken his son to the beach for a post-Christmas surfing session, but the day turned trag!c. A bystander told the Adelaide Advertiser that a local paddled out to help Khai as the shark circled. Although the rescuer brought the boy to shore, there was too much blood, and it seemed to be too late to save him.
In January, hundreds gathered at Seaford beach for Khai’s funeral, including his grieving father. More than 500 attendees joined the service, according to local reports. Mourners escorted Khai’s coffin through a guard of honor, led by his younger brother Jett, who carried Khai’s surfboard. During the funeral, Jett paid tribute to Khai as the ‘best big brother ever.’
Khai’s father, Tim Cowley, expressed his sorrow, saying, “It’s so cruel that he’s been taken from us at such a young age.” He reflected on Khai’s love for surfing, adding, “Most of the time, his skills surpassed mine, leaving me to watch from the beach as he did what he loved. We miss you so much, and our lives are filled with so many beautiful memories. I’m sorry it ended the way it did.”
A GoFundMe page was set up in Khai’s memory, with his aunt Lauryn Barley writing that Khai was ‘suddenly taken by a white pointer at Ethel Wreck.’ A family friend posted, “I’m here to help raise funds for my sister Kate and brother Tim to cover the funeral costs. Life can change in an instant, and we are never prepared.”
Khai was considered a rising talent in surfing, having been ranked 146th in Australia for under-18 surfers before his untimely death.