The deeply sad father of a lifesaver of a teenage letter stored by a shark dead, the tears fought back when he encouraged everyone to come to the beach where she lost her life.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, swam on Monday afternoon on Woorim Beach on Bribie Island when she was bitten by a shark.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the local teenager died on the spot.
Flanked by Surf Lifesavers, Charlize's father Steven Zmuda put the media on Tuesday Tuesday to pay tribute to his daughter and to encourage the local population not to stay away from the beach.
It comes when the local population arrived on the beach to lay flowers and to express their respect.
Hundreds later gathered for an emotional wake on the beach, which was also attended on Tuesday evening by Charlize's family and friends.
“Something that my wife and I want to say is: we don't want people to stop coming to the beach and enjoy our beach,” said Mr. Zmuda.
“It is a large part of our lives.
Charlize Zmuda was killed by a shark while swimming at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island
Charlize's father Steven Zmunda (depicted on the right) attended a wake on Tuesday evening.
Charlize's family and friends closed on Tuesday evening with hundreds of locals on a beach wake
“We have family here … the community … And we love everyone here, so please still come to the beach and enjoy the surroundings of every beach on the coast.”
He also remembered the moment he and his wife Renee received the tragic news.
“I was extremely stripped,” said Mr. Zmuda.
Charlize is remembered as a dedicated surfing savior and talented musician.
“She was a dedicated Savior in Nood who only wanted the best for our club and for all our community,” said her proud father.
'Charlize was extremely musical, talented, she was the leading role at the St Columban's school as a singer … she was so musical.
'She could hear a piece of music and then pick up and play on a drop of heartbeat.
'To take that talent away now … That kills me.
“Hopefully she is upstairs with my deceased father.”
“I never wanted a moment if someone would happen to and (for it) is my daughter, is a murderer.”
More than 2,000 locals attended Vigil on Tuesday evening, where they laid flowers and left bright green and yellow balloons in the air.
Mr. Zmuda spoke to the crowd from a circle that formed on the beach before he put the first of many candles.
Other family members also shared stories and sincere tribute about the 17-year-old.
A week earlier, Charlize had posted delicious photos on social media who showed how they spent the summer.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, swam on Woorim Beach when she was bitten by a shark for shocked spectators around 4.45 pm on Monday
Only a week earlier, Charlize had posted delicious photos on social media who showed how they spent the summer
Charlize is remembered as a dedicated surfing savior and talented musician
Hundreds of gathered on Woorim Beach on Bribie Island on Tuesday evening
Charlize surfed on sunrise, strum a guitar through a bonfire and riding with a jeep full of surfboards on a beach.
“Rest in Peace Beautiful Girl,” wrote a friend Tuesday.
Charlize was a resident of Bribie Island and a surfing savior in need for the local club.
Her family and friends got up early on Tuesday morning to look at the sunrise on Woorim Beach, where Charlize swam every day.
Her uncle described her as a 'beautiful girl' and told Sunrise that she had just visited her school formal on Friday.
She was attacked while swimming 100 meters offshore on the southeast of the island.
Police officers ran into the surf to help her after beachgoers heard 'piercing' screaming.
People initially thought that Charlize was caught in a crack, but it soon became clear that she was bitten and “catastrophic” injuries on her upper arm and trunk had been caught.
Charlize was a local Queensland and had served as captain for the Bridie Island Surf Life Saving Club in 2024.
Charlize's tragic death has turned the community of Bribie Island upside down
At the time of the attack, she was with her best friend, who was traumatized by the test.
Charlize's shattered family and friends later gathered on the scene on Monday evening, before they returned on Tuesday.
The observations of sharks are often on Bribie Island, but attacks are rare.
Woorim Beach is a popular destination among campers, 4WD enthusiasts and surfers such as the nearest surf beach north of Brisbane, where the Pacific Ocean meets the entrance to Moreton Bay.
The kind of sharks that Charlize attacked is unknown.
Woorim Beach remains closed until at least Friday.
Youth pastor Luke Walford was killed on December 28 in a shark attack on Humpy Island near Rockhampton off the coast of Central Queensland.
Walford, 40, was spearing 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 ran into the surf to help her after beachgoers heard 'piercing' screaming
