Youth Pastor Luke Walford Dies in Queensland's First Fatal Shark Attack in a Year

[{"selector":"#anim-3a6e1c8e-f143-4b8a-ab0b-1ca5e6d75ac1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d158b6f1-a6c7-4ada-b8f6-602823428b63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f47f83b8-8cc0-47fb-94fc-caafe7e65268","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c217b230-6758-47ad-965e-8c321c51313d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.30098%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Youth Pastor Luke Walford Dies in Queensland's First Fatal Shark Attack in a Year Govind Tekale

Luke Walford, 40-year-old youth pastor, suffered fatal shark attack while spearfishing off Humpy Island in Queensland's Keppel Bay Islands National Park.

[{"selector":"#anim-c1682bf0-b776-40bb-b2be-763d4dec2cb4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18a10563-6ba5-42e3-b51a-67cdd8f7d031","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8faccbb-0e09-474a-b531-ca387a090477","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37d32701-9c64-4620-8c9b-b198e18241c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e92c81ad-8f04-436a-8ee3-492e407b2af8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: LBM1948 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Emergency services rushed to scene at 4:37 PM on December 28, 2024, but Walford succumbed to severe neck injuries before 6 PM.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1200382-be08-4d58-a6d6-8d9660e25d7c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df735270-e666-4bc7-8051-345d1bddc8df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e8a0092-fd5f-4910-bbd8-ecfc25633a20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-613b2b08-24db-4bc2-b381-cabae74346e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bfe0c12-065a-49bd-8fc2-89af5af0b533","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Mikhail Nilov (Pexels)

Cathedral of Praise Church and Heights College mourn loss of beloved chaplain who served Rockhampton community for nearly decade.

[{"selector":"#anim-37c9c78b-7674-4ba8-9fa8-36de98f734aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85eb4e45-42f2-49af-a580-6224ba8410bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73711772-d45b-4d3e-a236-4c698a8ed75f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-992f8b22-6162-4619-800f-18d8b0eef07e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0ce1db3-a8c7-486b-9f46-486e8d66b010","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Cathedral of Praise Church (Facebook)

Humpy Island, popular tourist spot 18km off mainland, adds to recent shark incidents in Central Queensland region.

[{"selector":"#anim-b53f0f09-fe92-4e0a-9314-d8d5a0df77d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7be4f292-e58b-44dc-87e5-1c926b80362a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 249.72502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52711bb4-d199-425a-9672-399d5e229ff9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-502975e3-cdb9-4e81-b668-15e0cd7c8d08","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd6687cb-4556-40b1-a4d4-cab165f6d14a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rodolfo Santos013 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Expert Johan Gustafson reveals eastern reef edge serves as "major shark highway" with abundant marine life attracting both predators and anglers.

[{"selector":"#anim-2c665fa8-6438-46b2-9527-817e71359831","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-360f1af1-75c0-4e62-8686-57f4e08b770b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63166578-6d3a-4abc-b681-9a77f8ad714b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c584bfc-522e-4cff-a786-a716ea3bce22","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d3d55f9-8310-4e93-a998-73ea03d9e98b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Terry Goss (CC BY 2.5)

Blood from speared fish triggers hunting behavior in sharks, causing rapid movements and sharp turns as they track prey.

[{"selector":"#anim-6d69ae4e-fb9a-4601-9ddb-b04813b865fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-430c30d2-f0a3-4dfc-b931-b620cc5fbc77","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2513474d-748b-4b7e-8e26-7ee535678228","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-812ea08b-876e-430e-adba-2fb14dbc47da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c39f062-922c-4114-80d8-c2e1142e0c9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Hermanus Backpackers (CC BY 2.0)

Four shark attacks recorded in Queensland waters during 2024, making this latest incident the fifth reported case.

[{"selector":"#anim-1587c613-afd4-45af-95da-a8a07c2f9e8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-288d7111-a4ee-479c-9c5d-ded72d35616a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f0c1880-40d6-4437-88a6-3549ed11adaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e03233ba-5b36-4ecd-8ca0-a926ca0cfc40","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-553114e4-2855-4bab-afa4-24c3699e1908","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Mile Ribeiro (Pexels)

State MP Nigel Hutton assures government review of safety measures while community rallies behind grieving family.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d6a9bce-34e6-4ba9-aee7-de1cfed6a50e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79bc7b3e-737e-4c11-b9a5-ab1c9e526908","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.52137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55f2e5ef-a47d-4313-a19d-4d8440883766","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bafe952-2462-4f3f-bcdc-b96c84abca92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-524ed3c3-d00a-4fc3-ad9b-8f4bb9ed7fa6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Malcolm Hill (Pexels)

Family friend Doug Webber watched rescue helicopter, unaware victim was Luke - "beautiful soul" with "so much to offer this world.

[{"selector":"#anim-0319cb34-5d40-40d2-b09c-0237f22505f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f651ceb-07b7-4101-abdf-b7043a87a7f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83adb072-9108-4ebf-b964-22245f757692","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34b6ff86-5bd6-4fea-9b67-c1fe743acdd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7f0253b-f496-40bf-a292-42f6619ca764","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Bmpower (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Shark ecologist stresses attacks remain extremely rare, with coconut-related deaths surpassing shark incidents statistically.

[{"selector":"#anim-ccd7ce7e-3d40-4033-b94d-b5d58e61a583","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0aa81e7-8e5a-4fb3-995b-9b2c6d42ee18","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcbda165-bed1-4bb5-a030-0c5daf7cf0d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-643fa4ff-f9f0-42fb-8271-9ecf080a814f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28445495-d676-4383-8f79-ca6f5a63ae21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Glenda (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-b8d0e452-aad0-484e-9774-f8cee49b64ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8009bad-8c48-4b97-a43f-192958eb4cd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11eceb9e-e726-43ca-a93f-158e203eec27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c76d009-7370-4f9e-96d9-1487941f049e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0089c03-6bf0-4e83-8bc3-2f0bf42fa57c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Ghost Shark with Rare Leucism Found Near Albania, Unveiling Deep-Sea Genetic Mystery Learn more