Victorian surfer taken by shark in front of horrified partner identified

A major search involving police, marine rescue and SES personnel was launched immediately, and picked up again at first light on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately that search has not recovered the surfer’s body — I can also confirm that our search is a recovery, not a rescue,” senior sergeant Chris Taylor said on Tuesday.

Payne is understood to have been in chest-deep water about 50m from the shore and with at least two other surfers when he was attacked, but Taylor said there “was absolutely nothing they could do, nothing”.

Read More: https://7news.com.au/news/wa-shark-attack-victorian-man-steven-payne-37-identified-as-surfer-taken-near-esperance-c-18003987