Missing surfer likely dead in Australia shark attack: 'There's just been no sign of him'
As of early Friday morning, Australian police had not released the 28-year-old surfer's name, and an air, land, and water search was underway for him.
Police said emergency crews in Australia continued are scouring ocean waters for a surfer who disappeared beneath the surface after likely being attacked by a shark.
Just after 7 p.m. local time Thursday, the 28-year-old man from Port Lincoln, a city on the Eyre Peninsula, was surfing near Granites Beach, south of Streaky Bay, when witnesses reported seeing a shark attack him, South Australia Police wrote in a news release early Friday.
Officers responded and began a search along with state officials and local volunteers, the agency reported.
As of early Friday morning, police had not released the surfer's name, the man’s body had yet to be found, and authorities were still searching by air, land and water.
'There was just no sign of this young man'
Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation a surfboard had been recovered.
"I understand someone went out on a jet ski immediately after the attack, which is extremely brave of them, and were able to recover the surfboard," she told the local outlet. "But there was just no sign of this young man. There's just been no sign of him."
The species of shark that attacked the surfer was not immediately known, but according to the outlet, a fisherman spotted at least one "large great white shark" in the area before the reported attack.
Beach where surfer reportedly attacked by shark remains closed
The beach remained closed to the public Friday, and officials were asking any witnesses to contact police.
Because the surfer is presumed dead, officials said police were preparing a report for the coroner Friday.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This story was updated to add a video.