Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Khai Cowley
Topics: Surfing
Josh Lawless
Topics: Surfing
Tributes have poured in for young surfer Khai Cowley after he was killed in a shark attack.
The 15-year-old lost his life in devastating fashion last month near Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park.
Khai was ranked the 146th under 18 surfer in Australia and his dad Tim treated him to a trip four hours from the family's home in Adelaide to the popular beach.
He was there to practice his skills but the trip ended in tragedy as the youngster's leg was bitten off while his dad watched on in horror.
He was then pulled out of the water as locals tried to save him but Khai lost his life.
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"The shark took his leg, and so another local guy ran out, jumped on his board and paddled out to help him," a witness told the Adelaide Advertiser.
"The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood.
"He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then."
The tragic incident happened just three days after Christmas and on Monday (22 January) a special vigil was held to celebrate Khai's life.
More than 500 people turned out for the emotional affair, where Khai's younger sibling Jett held his surfboard and called him the "best big brother ever".
A wooden bench was decorated with flowers, shells and pictures of Khai, who his dad called a "beautiful boy".
As per Unilad, he said: "Most of the time it was beyond my ability, leaving me no choice but to sit on the beach and watch my beautiful boy do what he loved.
"We miss you so much. You filled our lives with so many beautiful memories. I’m so sorry it went the way it did."