Hundreds farewell shark victim
THE archetypal Australian larrikin who died doing the thing he loved most. That was the picture painted at today’s funeral for dedicated traveller and surfer Brad Smith, 29, killed in a shark attack as he surfed off West Australia’s coast nine days ago.
About 500 mourners, some who had travelled thousands of kilometres to attend, packed into a chapel at Fremantle Cemetery to farewell Mr Smith, who was known as “Big Bradley Bear” in surfing circles.
His death at the Left Handers break in Gracetown, near the south-west holiday town of Margaret River, created international headlines, after eye-witnesses reported seeing two sharks, possibly of different species, attack him.
Mr Smith’s surfboard was bitten into three pieces, and his injuries were so severe he died before emergency services could reach him.
The attack has confounded experts because of the sightings of the sharks – believed to have been a great white and a large bronze whaler – apparently working in unison during the attack.
A 48-hour search, which included a marksman aboard a vessel patrolling the waters around the Left Handers break, failed to find the killers, and WA Fisheries have since issued a warning to locals not to become “shark vigilantes” following the attack.
At today’s memorial service, family members appealed for the nature of the man, and not the manner of Mr Smith’s death, to be his lasting memory.
And brother Michael also criticised some of the media reports following the attack, saying they had overlooked the person in highlighting the sensational aspects of his death.
“Australian, genuine, laid back – (a) cheeky smart arse, (with a) cheeky smart-arse grin,” Michael Smith said.
“You got it right – living to live.”
Surfing mates, sporting Hawaiian shirts and caps, told various stories of Mr Smith’s surfing exploits, despite his having suffered arthritis in his knees.
His brother Stephen said the large attendance at the memorial service illustrated how many people knew and respected him.
As a video and photographic memorial of Mr Smith’s life was played to the mourners, his parents Ian and Jenny briefly walked to the casket to say their final goodbye.
Celebrant Laurence Locklear said tributes written for Mr Smith since his death reflected the regard in which he was held by the many people who had met him throughout the world.
“A true waterman and charger who loved everyone and (who) everyone loved – Australia has lost one of its characters,” Mr Locklear said.