A beloved church pastor has tragically lost his life after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia.

Luke Walford, 40, succumbed to his injuries an hour and a half after the attack on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred while Walford was enjoying a pastime he held dear. Known for his passion for spearfishing, which he inherited from his father, Walford was accompanied by family members during the ill-fated outing.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on Facebook, the Cathedral of Praise Church commemorated Walford’s life and his dedication to the congregation.

“He was attacked by a shark while doing something he loved - spearfishing, a passion that was passed down to him by his father,” the post read. “He was truly a beloved figure, especially among our young people, children, and the entire congregation.”

Walford, a resident of Rockhampton, Queensland, had devoted nine years of his life to serving the church. He was highly regarded for his leadership and his ability to connect with people of all ages.

Tributes have poured in from friends, family, and members of the wider community, reflecting the deep impact he had made through his ministry.

Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson Danielle Martin said at the time: "We don't respond to these very often but when we do they are a unique incident that require us to work with other services to bring the patient to hospital in a timely manner.

"We were lucky in this case as shark bites can be significant but we were able to transport him with minor to moderate injuries on this occasion."