The heartbroken dad of a teenage surf lifesaver mauled to death by a shark has fought back tears as he urged everyone to continue coming to the beach where she lost her life.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, was swimming at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island on Monday afternoon when she was bitten by a shark.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the local teen died at the scene.
Flanked by surf lifesavers, Charlize’s father Steven Zmuda bravely fronted the media on Tuesday to pay tribute to his daughter and urge locals to not stay away from the beach.
It comes as shattered locals arrived at the beach to lay flowers and pay their respects.
Hundreds later gathered for an emotional vigil at the beach which was also attended by Charlize’s family and friends on Tuesday night.
‘Something that my wife and I want to say is: we don’t want people to stop coming to the beach and enjoying our beach,’ Mr Zmuda said.
‘It’s a big part of our lives.
Charlize Zmuda was killed by a shark while swimming at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island
Charlize’s father Steven Zmunda (pictured right) attended a vigil on Tuesday night hours he fronted the media to pay tribute to his daughter
Charlize’s family and friends joined hundreds of locals at a beachside vigil on Tuesday night
‘We’ve got family here … the community … and we love everybody here, so please still come to the beach and enjoy the surrounds of every beach up and down the coast.’
He also recalled the moment he and his wife Renee received the tragic news.
‘I was extremely gutted,’ Mr Zmuda said.
Charlize has been remembered as a devoted surf lifesaver and talented musician.
‘She was a dedicated lifesaver who wanted to only the best for our club and for all of our community,’ her proud dad said.
‘Charlize was extremely musical, talented, she was the lead at the St Columban’s School as a singer … she was so musically gifted.
‘She could hear a piece of music and then pick up and play it at the drop of a heartbeat.
‘To have that talent taken away right now … that kills me.
‘She’s hopefully upstairs with my late father.’
‘I never wanted a moment like this to happen to anybody and (for it) to be my daughter is a killer.’
More than 2,000 locals attended Tuesday night’s vigil, where they laid flowers and released bright green and yellow balloons into the sky.
Mr Zmuda addressed the crowd from within a circle that formed on the beach, before laying the first of many candles.
Other family members also shared stories and heartfelt tributes about the 17-year-old.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, was swimming at Woorim Beach when she was bitten by a shark in front of horrified onlookers about 4.45pm on Monday
Just a week earlier, Charlize had posted blissful photos to social media that showed how she was spending the summer
Charlize has been remembered as a devoted surf lifesaver and talented musician. She’s pictured before her school formal last Friday
Hundreds gathered at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island on Tuesday night
A week earlier, Charlize had posted blissful photos to social media that showed how she was spending the summer.
Charlize was seen surfing at sunrise, strumming a guitar by a bonfire and driving a jeep loaded with surfboards on a beach.
‘Rest in peace beautiful girl,’ one friend wrote on Tuesday.
Charlize was a Bribie Island resident and a surf lifesaver for the local club.
Her family and friends got up early on Tuesday morning to watch the sunrise at Woorim Beach, where Charlize swam every day.
Her uncle described her as a ‘beautiful girl,’ and told Sunrise she had only just attended her school formal on Friday.
She was attacked while swimming 100 metres offshore at the south-east tip of the island.
Police officers raced into the surf to help her after beachgoers heard ‘piercing’ screams.
People initially thought Charlize had been caught in a rip, but it soon became apparent she had been bitten and suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries to her upper arm and torso.
Charlize was a Queensland local and had served as a captain for the Bridie Island Surf Life Saving Club in 2024.
Charlize’s tragic death has rocked the Bribie Island community
At the time of the attack she was with her best friend, who has been left traumatised by the ordeal.
Charlize’s shattered family and friends later gathered at the scene on Monday night, before they returned on Tuesday.
Shark sightings are frequent at Bribie Island, but attacks are rare.
Woorim Beach is a popular destination with campers, 4WD enthusiasts and surfers as the closest surf beach north of Brisbane, where the Pacific meets the entrance to Moreton Bay.
The species of shark which attacked Charlize is unknown.
Woorim Beach will remain closed until at least Friday.
Youth pastor Luke Walford was killed in a shark attack at Humpy Island near Rockhampton off the central Queensland coast on December 28.
Walford, 40, was spearfishing with family and friends when he was bitten.
There are an average of 20 shark attacks in Australia per year, resulting in about three deaths.
Police officers raced into the surf to help her after beachgoers heard ‘piercing’ screams
