Drone catches final moments of surfer mauled to death by shark in front of girlfriend
Authorities are desperately trying to find the body of a surfer who was mauled to death by a shark in front of his girlfriend in Western Australia.
New Zealander Steven Payne, 37, was killed by a shark while surfing with his partner at Wharton Beach on the south west coast. Mr Payne was in chest-deep water about 50 metres from shore when the attack took place on Monday.
But his shocked partner and other onlookers could do nothing as they heard his screams.
Authorities rushed to the remote beach around midday, shortly before closing the beach and starting a search.
The rescue quickly turned into a recovery mission when drone footage of the attack taken by a member of the public was shared with police.
Mr Payne's surfboard was found with bite marks, but authorities are yet to locate his body.
Western Australia Police Force Senior Sergeant Christopher Taylor said on Tuesday Mr Payne was with at least two surfers when he was attacked but there was 'nothing they could do, nothing'.
Drone footage and witness accounts made it 'so obvious what had happened', the Sergeant added.
The search resumed on Wednesday morning, with the surfboard due to be tested in the hope of identifying the species of shark responsible.
The attack came just weeks into the couple's six-month trip around Australia with their dog.
'It (the drone footage) shows a lot of blood, the shark and some other things in there I don't particularly want to go into and I don't think anybody else needs to see other than maybe the coroner and some other experts who will determine the type of shark and size,' the Sergeant said, adding that the girlfriend was 'distraught'.
'Her life was turned upside down... You can imagine how she is, it's just horrible. It is heartbreaking obviously and the whole community of Esperance feels the pain - not as much as the family, they're distraught and trying to come to terms with what happened.'
Mr Payne worked as a sales and marketing director in Melbourne and was a volunteer firefighter.
He grew up in New Zealand busy Lower Hutt city and was known as a talented rugby player by his school friends. His family are believed to be on their way.
Mr Payne was a 'really good lad' who had only moved to Melbourne in recent years, one school friend told Australian TV channel 7 News.
'He was an incredible person who was always there for his mates,' another school friend told 7 news, adding that the news was 'devastating'.
Mr Payne had dated his girlfriend for more than 10 years and had previously lived in Namibia.
Witnesses reported seeing a 'massive shark' attack Mr Payne.
Shark monitoring website SharkSmart also detected an unidentified species of shark minutes after the attack off the popular Esperance shoreline.
There have been three fatal shark attacks in the area in the last eight years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Crime drama with 'one of the best twists of all time' finally available on Netfl
A crime drama that viewers have declared 'one of the best they've watched in a long time' has now been made available on Netflix. First airing in Australia in 2023, North Shore was created by Mike Bullen, who was also behind the comedy-drama Cold Feet. The six-part series follows a British and Australian detective who must team up and investigate the murder of the British trade minister's daughter after her body is found in Sydney Harbour. The politician, Abigail Crawford, is played by Downton Abbey and Breathtaking's Joanne Froggatt. In the middle of negotiating a major deal between Britain and Australia she is told the devastating news about her 19-year-old daughter Sophie's (Bailey Spalding) death. Invited to help investigate the case is London based detective Max Drummond (Game of Thrones' John Bradley) who flies across the world with Abigail and her husband Simon (Dan Spielman). However, once he arrives, it's made clear by DS Meg Driscoll (Kirsty Sturgess) that she will be taking the lead, with their personalities and cultures quickly crashing. Despite their icy introduction, the pair must overcome their differences to work together, which then sees them uncovering a 'complex conspiracy with international political consequences'. Several suspects then emerge, including Sophie's boyfriend and his best friend, while questions are also raised about Abigail's relationship with her old friend Greg Hardy, the leader of the Australian opposition party who looks likely to be the nation's next leader. Since tuning in, many viewers have shared what they thought of the drama. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'One of the best twists of all time. The final episode has the most surprising twist of any crime/ murder mystery series since the first season of Broadchurch! Not as emotionally dramatic but still shocking!' lbowdls posted on IMDB. 'Ok so this isn't Line of Duty or The Wire, but it was much better than I was expecting. Don't go into this expecting a breathtaking drama. Take it for what it is. A simple whodunit with a great twist at the end!' thenorthcotes shared. 'It doesn't sound cliché or cheesy like a lot of modern murder mysteries do lately, and it's just the right amount of thriller and mystery to keep you wondering, with little hints of comedy to spark your mood,' thewatcher17 added. The series was initially acquired by ITV in the UK, streaming on ITVX following its initial release on Australian television in 2023, but its dropped on Netflix in the UK today. 'Just binge watched North Shore One of the best series we've watched in a long time! Here's hoping they'll be another series!' Ian posted on X. More Trending 'Brilliant crime drama from down under with 2 UK lead actors. I'd recorded the first 2 episodes but after watching them yesterday I just couldn't wait and watched the rest,' John wrote. North Shore also stars Rob Carlton, Matt Passmore, Rhys Muldoon and Toby Truslove. North Shore is streaming on Netflix. View More » A version of this article was first published on January 16, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Daisy May Cooper makes shock exit from ITV series before second series MORE: Vanessa Feltz guest apologises after 'disgraceful' remarks spark almost 2,000 complaints MORE: Wincey Willis, ITV's first female weather presenter, dies aged 76
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Drug dealer found to be selling heroin and cocaine ordered to pay back £3,000
Drug dealer found to be selling heroin and cocaine ordered to pay back £3,000 Kaci Payne, 25, was found with a phone connected to a drugs line and claimed to be working under direction Kaci Payne, 25, was found to be dealing heroin and cocaine after police found him in possession of a phone connected to a drugs line (Image: South Wales Police ) A drug dealer who was found to be selling heroin and cocaine after he was found with a phone connected to a drugs line has been ordered to pay back £3,000 after benefiting by more than £18,000. He claimed to be working under direction and said he had no influence on those above him in the chain. Kaci Payne, 25, was stopped by police in Cardiff on November 20 last year in a Renault with three other men. He was found in possession of a phone which was linked to the 'J' drugs line. The defendant was discovered after he was seen on CCTV "topping up" a burner phone. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. His home was searched and police seized a knife, £1,000 in cash, and high-value clothing. The burner phone was interrogated and a number of messages revealed he was involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine between October 4 and November 20 last year. The defendant was interviewed but answered "no comment" to questions. Article continues below Payne, of Verallo Drive, Canton, later pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. The court heard he has five previous convictions. These include offences of possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis, possession of a bladed article, possession of an offensive weapon, and drug-driving. In mitigation the court was told there was no evidence the defendant had influence over those above him in the change and was "acting under direction". The defendant was described as having a "challenging" childhood having been introduced to cannabis at a young age and later diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Payne was sentenced to a total of 36 months imprisonment last year. Article continues below At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, the court was told the defendant had benefited to the tune of £18,062 as a result of his offending, but only has assets worth £3,250. The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke ordered the defendant to pay that sum within three months or serve an additional two months imprisonment in default.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Man Utd wonderkid banished to train on his own and put through ‘torturous' sessions to force him out of club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Manchester United hot prospect was forced into "torturous" training sessions in a bid to make him quit his club. But amid the brutal regime, he was driven on by a supportive coach urging him: "Don't let them break you". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Ryan Tunnicliffe had a nightmare second year with Adelaide United Credit: Getty 3 Tunnicliffe played with future stars like Paul Pogba at Old Trafford Credit: Getty - Contributor Midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe is the player at the centre of the amazing claims Down Under. He was at Old Trafford from 2009-2014, featuring alongside future heroes like Paul Pogba and earning England caps at Under-16 and U-17 level. Tunnicliffe, now 32, went on to have decent spells with Fulham, Millwall, Luton and Portsmouth. But a move to Australian team Adelaide United on a two-year deal in 2023 went less than smoothly. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL CITY PUNISHED Man City slapped with fine as they accept breaching Prem rule nine times And Tunnicliffe's troubles peaked when the club's technical director Ernest Faber wanted him out - according to 7NEWS Adelaide. The Australian broadcaster revealed whistleblowing claims by former assistant Travis Dodd. The former Adelaide player, 45, suggested that ex-coach Carl Veart was undermined by Faber last season. Dodd reckoned Faber asked players to pick the team without telling Veart. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And it's reckoned Tunnicliffe was caught up in the situation. He only played four minutes last season before departing in May - with Veart also leaving after five years in charge, as well as Dodd. New Man Utd star Matheus Cunha runs rings around pals as he plays 5-a-side on streets in his hometown And it's alleged Tunnicliffe faced a bizarre ordeal as he struggled for game time. 7News Adelaide reported that Faber "forced unwanted import Ryan Tunnicliffe to train on his own, putting him through torturous running sessions in the hope he would quit the club". Dodd told the TV channel: "I said, 'Mate, don't let them break you'. He goes, 'I can do it'. "And, credit to him, for two weeks he rocked up when he was asked to rock up, did what he was asked to do, and seemingly Ernest (Faber) had had enough after two weeks and let him rejoin the first-team squad." Former Adelaide player Josh Cavallo alleged on the 7News Facebook comment section that he too suffered because of Faber. The ex-Socceroos U-20 ace, 25, claimed Veart was "under clear instructions by the people above him" not to pick him.
