Missing surfer attacked by shark feared dead after wetsuit found

Part of a wetsuit has been found after surfer Simon Baccanello went missing following a shark attack.

The 46-year-old was part of a group of around a dozen surfers in the water when a shark emerged at Walkers Rock Beach, Australia, at around 10am local time on Saturday (13 May).

Police believe that the much-loved teacher was near the back of the group during the shark attack and has been missing ever since.

The police and members of the State Emergency Service (SES) have been conducting thorough searches of the shoreline since his disappearance but have found no sign of his body.

Officials have discovered what they believe to be pieces of his surfboard and part of his wetsuit, and according to SES member Trevlyn Smith the board had 'one bite mark in the middle'.

9News

With the discovery of the bitten board and part of a wetsuit, police have said the teacher is 'believed to have died following a shark attack at Walkers Rock Beach'.

A witness to the shark attack said he saw the predator 'thrashing around' in the water, believing the shark 'has let go and come back and got him'.

"The family are grateful for the support of the Elliston community, family and friends, and would appreciate their privacy as they process this tragic loss." Baccanello's family said in a statement.

The surfer was a popular teacher whose students remembered as someone who 'took a lot of time out of his own time to help other people succeed'.

"He had a real keenness with his students to make them feel good to build those relationships with the students," Principal Chad Fleming said of Baccanello to 9News.

"And that's what he's going to be remembered for."

Christopher Parsons / Alamy Stock Photo

Walkers Rock Beach is located near the coastal town of Elliston, with the waters around the town known for having a high number of sharks in it.

According to 9News, this would be the first fatal shark attack off the coast of South Australia since 2014 when a 28-year-old man who had been spearfishing with friends disappeared after witnesses saw a shark attack him.

High school teacher Sam Kellett was ruled to have been eaten whole by a shark during the attack nine years ago, with no body ever found after the attack.

All that was recovered from that attack was a couple of lead weights and a spear gun with tooth marks judged to have been caused by a shark's bite.

Topics: Australia, News, Animals

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker