Deadly shark attack victim named as Tod Gendle, as family releases statement

The surfer presumed to have been killed in a shark attack on South Australia’s west coast has been identified as Tod Gendle, with his family releasing a statement expressing “heartfelt thanks” to emergency services involved in the search for his remains. 

Witnesses say the 55-year-old was paddling into the water near Granites Beach, south of Streaky Bay, when he was knocked off his surfboard by the shark on Tuesday morning.

The animal pulled him under in front of several people in the water.

Mr Gendle’s family this afternoon issued a public statement, via police, expressing its grief as well as its thanks to those involved in the search.

“We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the police and volunteers for their dedicated efforts in the recent days,” it said.

“We extend our appreciation to his friends and the local community of Streaky Bay, who had the chance to know Tod.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were with Tod on that day.”

Authorities resumed a search on the western side of Eyre Peninsula on Thursday after postponing the effort yesterday afternoon because of ocean conditions.

“The man’s body is yet to be found and the search resumed early this morning,” police said earlier today.

Police have recovered Mr Gendle’s surfboard and other “small items”.

Superintendent Paul Bahr told ABC News that the victim travelled around Australia as ‘”a very competent surfer”.

“He’s not a Streaky Bay local. From what we understand he’s a bit of a traveller,” Superintendent Bahr said yesterday.

“Depending on the wind, the swell and the currents, we will be continuing to do searches for short periods over at least the next two days.”

Superintendent Bahr said searching for the shark responsible for the attack would be “reasonably futile” and authorities would not hunt it down.

Witness Jack Martin was at nearby cliffs when he saw the horrifying incident unfold.

“He got knocked off his board by the shark and then it circled back around and grabbed him,” Mr Martin said.

Local Jeff Schmucker said he searched for the surfer on his jet ski shortly after the attack.

“I immediately grabbed the surfboard that was floating in the line-up,” he said.

Mr Schmucker said that, when he arrived in the area where the incident happened, he saw a great white “the length of a sedan car”, but he cannot be sure it was the one involved in the attack.

He said he followed the shark but he could not see any trace of the surfer.

The attack is the second deadly incident of its kind in South Australian waters this year.

Teacher Simon Baccanello is presumed to have died from a shark attack at Walkers Rock beach near Elliston in May.

In October, a woman suffered leg injuries when she was bitten by a shark while swimming at Beachport in the state’s south east.