Youth pastor killed by shark while fishing with family

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.

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.

Luke Walford, 40, was bitten by a shark while fishing with family members about 4.30pm.

Despite efforts by paramedics, he succumbed to his injuries just before 6pm.

Mr Walford was a youth pastor for the Cathedral of Praise and school chaplain at Heights College in Rockhampton.

Queensland Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said Mr Walford was a “wonderful man” lost in tragic circumstances.

“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.

“My prayers and heartfelt condolences are with his beautiful family and indeed the many who will be devastated, as I am, at this news.”

Local member Nigel Hutton also sent his well wishes to the family.

“The thoughts and prayers of our community go out to the Walford family,” he said.

There have been at least four other shark attacks in Australian waters in 2024, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.

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.