Heartbroken father recalls moment he found out his daughter had been killed by shark
Topics: Australia, Shark, News, World News
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: ABC News Australia
Topics: Australia, Shark, News, World News
The father of a teenager who was killed by a shark has recalled the harrowing moment he was told that she had died.
Earlier this week, 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda was tragically killed by a shark in Queensland, Australia.
The attack occurred just before 5pm local time, and Charlize, a surf lifesaver, died from her injuries.
In the wake of her tragic death, her heartbroken parents have paid tribute to her.
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"When I got the tragic news yesterday, I was extremely gutted," her father, Steve Zmuda said, as per 9News.
"But something my wife and I want to say is we don't want people to stop coming to the beach and enjoying our beach.
"Charlize was a member of our club since she was eight years old.
"She was a dedicated lifesaver who wanted to only do the best for our club and all the people in our community."
Elsewhere, her mom, Renee, described Charlize as 'a shining light who truly touched the lives of everyone she met'.
Steve also recalled the devastating moment he received the news that the person who had been mauled by the shark was his daughter.
He was aware there had been an attack and started calling around to find out more information.
It's while he was on the phone to a friend that he was told it was Charlize who had died.
"I said, 'You're joking'," Steve said of his initial reaction to the news.
"I screamed, all the neighbors came running out."
He then called his wife, but he struggled to get the words out to tell her.
"Steve couldn't talk and I didn't know what was going on," Renee told The Courier Mail, "I screamed at him 'just tell me!'"
"I knew it was bad because he couldn't speak," she went on.
After finding out that Charlize had died in the attack, Renee went down to the beach it happened to see her daughter for herself.
The heartbroken mom said: "I just needed to see her... because I didn't want it to be real."
Surf Life Saving Queensland, which the teenager was a member of, has addressed Charlize's death in a statement shared on social media.
Part of it read: "A 17-year-old member of the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club was fatally attacked by a shark. She and her family have been a cherished part of the surf lifesaving community, and our hearts are broken.
"Surf lifesaving is built on family and community, and today we mourn this devastating loss. On behalf of all members, we wrap our hearts and minds around her family, friends, Club, and all those affected. No words can ease the pain, but we stand together, offering our deepest sympathies and support."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].