Lance Appleby, the victim of a shark attack, has been remembered as a talented surfer, a great footballer and a beautiful young man.

The search for the 28-year-old’s body continued off an Eyre Peninsula beach in South Australia today.

Just before 7pm yesterday, Appleby was surfing near Granites Beach, south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, when witnesses say a shark attacked.

A friend went searching for him on a jet ski but found only his board. 

“It was 1500 metres offshore, and he found the board with half a leg rope and a bite mark in the bottom of the board, which confirms it was a shark attack,” local surfer Jeff Schmucker said.

It is not yet known what type of shark it was, but earlier in the day there had been concerns about a great white shark in the area.

“In the morning a local fisherman went out to pull his cray pots and found that one of his pots had been moved 500 metres and had been crushed,” Schmucker said.

He also described the moment locals witnessed the attack.

“There were people in the car park that saw him catch the wave, he rode it right to the end and flicked out, then proceeded to paddle back and he was taken not long after he flicked off the wave,” Schumucker said.

Appleby had grown up in nearby Streaky Bay.

“A beautiful young man, loved the ocean, a great footballer,” Schmucker said.

“He’s a very competent surfer too, and I watched him grow up surfing and it wasn’t long until he was riding deep in the barrels.”

Locals say the attack has brought back horrific memories from last October, when another surfer was taken by a shark at the same beach.

A search for 55-year-old Tod Gendle located only his surfboard and a piece of wetsuit.

Authorities say they will consider what can be done to prevent further tragedies. 

Any witnesses are asked to provide their details to police or to contact 131 444.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.