Martin Regley
12/31/2024 at 4:22 p.m.
Luke Walford was spearfishing when he was attacked by a shark. Seriously injured, he succumbed to his injuries.
The man was spearfishing with his family when he was attacked. Luke Walford, a 40-year-old pastor, was killed by a shark on Australia's Great Barrier Reef on Saturday, the BBC reports.
A serious fatal injury
Seriously injured, he was quickly treated by emergency services after emerging from the water. Despite efforts, he was pronounced dead an hour later. When the shark attacked the pastor, the man was with his family on Humpy Island in Keppel Bay Islands National Park.
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According to authorities, Luke Walford had been a school chaplain and pastor at the Cathedral Of Praise Church in Rockhampton, Queensland. Local MP Donna Kirkland said she was shocked by her friend's death. “He was also a friend to countless others. My prayers and sincere condolences go out to his beautiful family and to all those who will be devastated, like me, by this news,” she added.
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Another friend of the victim told ABC News he saw the emergency helicopter flying over his house, not knowing it was Luke Walford inside. “Learning that it was him was a very sad day,” the man lamented.
The local police announced that an investigation report will be drawn up to shed light on the accident.
