A youth pastor known for his community work and mentoring died in a shark attack while spearfishing with family members at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, marking the country’s fourth fatal shark encounter of 2023.
Luke Walford, 40, a chaplain at the Cathedral of Praise Church in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, sustained fatal neck injuries during the December 29, 2024, attack at Humpy Island in Keppel Bay Islands National Park, approximately 11 miles off the mainland. The island, a popular camping and diving destination, is accessible only by boat.
Emergency services scrambled to respond after receiving the distress call at 4:30 p.m. local time. A rescue helicopter was dispatched to the remote location, but despite intensive efforts by paramedics, Walford succumbed to his injuries before 6 p.m.
“I always say a little tribute for whoever it may be, but to find out it was Luke was a very sad day,” family friend Doug Webber told state a local media outlet, recalling how he watched the rescue helicopter fly over his house toward the island.
The Cathedral of Praise Church community deeply mourned the loss of their spiritual leader, expressing their grief through a social media statement. In their tribute, they highlighted how Walford died pursuing spearfishing, a cherished family tradition passed down through generations from his father. The church emphasized his special connection with young congregants, describing him as a beloved figure who had forged meaningful relationships across all age groups, from children to adults. His influence extended throughout the congregation, where he had established himself as an integral part of their spiritual community and leadership.
Local Member of Parliament Donna Kirkland described Walford as “a friend to countless others” and expressed her devastation at the loss.
The incident represents a concerning trend in Australian waters. The nation recorded four fatal shark attacks in 2023, accounting for 40% of global shark-related deaths. Of the 69 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, 22% occurred in Australian waters, with surfers facing the highest risk.
This attack marked the second shark encounter in central Queensland in December 2024. Earlier that month, a man survived an attack off Curtis Island, located in the same region.
While the Great Barrier Reef typically hosts less dangerous species like white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, larger predators such as tiger and bull sharks occasionally venture into the area. Marine experts note that spearfishing, often involving wounded fish, can attract sharks and increase the risk of encounters.
In response to increasing shark incidents, Australian authorities have implemented the world’s most extensive coastal surveillance system. Over 200 trained drone pilots monitor 50 coastal locations during peak seasons. The program includes non-lethal drumlines that alert officials to shark presence, enabling better tracking of their movements. These measures have shown promising results, with protected beaches reporting no shark-human interactions in the past five years, compared to 19 incidents in the previous period.
Marine biologists attribute the rise in shark encounters partly to changing ocean temperatures, driving sharks further south along the Australian coastline, potentially increasing human interactions in previously less-affected areas.
