<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335949</docID> <postdate>2024-12-29 12:49:05</postdate> <headline>Youth pastor killed by shark while fishing with family</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335964" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/shark-death-near-Newcastle-e1735436972658.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /></p> <caption>A youth pastor has died after being attacked by a shark in the Keppel Bay Islands National Park. Photo: Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Neve Brissenden</b>Â </span></p> <div class="wire-column__preview__text" id="preview-body"> <p><strong>A youth pastor and school chaplain described as an inspirational leader has been identified as the man killed by a shark while on holiday with his family.</strong></p> <p>Emergency services were called to Humpy Island in the Keppel Bay Islands National Park, about 18km off the central Queensland coast, on Saturday following reports a man had been attacked.</p> <p>Luke Walford, 40, was bitten by a shark while fishing with family members about 4.30pm.</p> <p>Despite efforts by paramedics, he succumbed to his injuries just before 6pm.</p> <p>Mr Walford was a youth pastor for the Cathedral of Praise and school chaplain at Heights College in Rockhampton.</p> <p>Queensland Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said Mr Walford was a "wonderful man" lost in tragic circumstances.</p> <p>"A family friend, not only to my own family but countless others. He was an inspirational leader as a children's and youth pastor," she said in a statement.</p> <p>"My prayers and heartfelt condolences are with his beautiful family and indeed the many who will be devastated, as I am, at this news."</p> <p>Local member Nigel Hutton also sent his well wishes to the family.</p> <p>"The thoughts and prayers of our community go out to the Walford family," he said.</p> <p>There have been at least four other shark attacks in Australian waters in 2024, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.</p> <p>They include a woman who suffered significant injuries to her leg from a shark bite while snorkelling in the ocean off Mackay in October, and a woman who was badly wounded after being bitten on the leg while swimming in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney Harbour in January.</p> </div> </body>