The family of Duncan Craw, who went missing in South Australian waters and is believed to have been attacked by a shark, have told of their grief and shock.
The Victorian resident from Warrnambool was to celebrate his 33rd birthday on Saturday but was sadly last seen snorkelling offshore in SA’s southeast on Thursday.
His family have remembered him as “extremely hardworkingâ€and “the best father†who enjoyed catching up with friends and watching or playing sports.
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They said it was impossible to describe their grief and shock.
“It’s also impossible to fully explain the hole this will leave behind in the lives of all the relatives and friends who love Duncan,†Mr Craw’s family wrote in statement.
“We wish this was all a bad dream.
“He was a cheerful, loving, helpful son. He was a kind and cheeky brother to his sisters. He was a fun-loving, mischievous and supportive mate who had a heart of gold.
“We will never forget Duncan and we will make sure his memory lives on.â€
Mr Craw travelled to SA with his wife Taylia and young son Levi on a camping trip.
His family said he loved snorkelling and accepted the dangers he could face in the ocean. However, he was “extremely unlucky†this time.
They thanked the search and rescue crews and the volunteers who tried to find their loved one.
The air and sea search for Mr Craw was scaled back on Friday as a result of the suspected cause.
During the operation, police water crew members and the helicopter found a damaged wetsuit after locating flippers the previous night.
The swimming gear is believed to belong to Mr Craw.
Police suspect he was attacked by a shark after two were spotted in nearby waters on Thursday.
Limestone Coast Police operations manager Campbell Hill said Mr Craw was snorkelling relatively close to shore and was visible to his wife but quickly disappeared.
Inspector Hill said the family were “understandably devastatedâ€.
“We approached this promptly in the hopes that we’d be able to (achieve) a rescue and, certainly, at first light this morning, we hadn’t given up hopes.
“We’re doing everything in our power to support them and look after them and … guiding their way through the coronial processes is our priority moving forward.
“It’s simply tragic and a shocking event, and it’s going to take some time for people to adjust to.â€
Earlier on Friday, Inspector Hill said police had not yet come across any remains and it was possible they wouldn’t find them.
He said there were no witnesses to a shark attack or a medical episode in the water, but officers were working off circumstantial evidence.
“The physical evidence along with the proximity of the sharks and the manner in which we’ve been advised that this male disappeared, we put those pieces together and it sadly does lend itself to a strong belief this is a shark attacked-related incident,†Inspector Hill told reporters.
The search for the Victorian man began just before 5pm on Thursday after police were alerted to his disappearance in water off Surfers Way near Port MacDonnell.
Local fishers, Fisheries SA, SES crews and local volunteers helped police look for him.
An Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger aircraft from Victoria also searched the area into the evening.
Police divers tried to locate Mr Craw overnight and assisted in the search that resumed on Friday morning.
Investigations are leading to a report being prepared for the coroner.
