The heartbroken father of Charlize Zmuda, a 17-year-old surf lifesaver, has spoken out after her devastating death in a shark attack at Bribie Island beach.
Stephen Zmuda expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of grief from the community and urged people not to let fear stop them from enjoying the beach.
A Life Cut Short: Remembering Charlize Zmuda
Charlize, a dedicated member of Surf Life Saving Queensland since she was eight years old, was swimming in an unpatrolled section of the beach when she was bitten by a shark on Monday afternoon.
Her family and friends described her as a “shining light” who touched the lives of everyone she met.
With a passion for helping others, Charlize spent her time looking after Queenslanders as a highly skilled lifesaver.
Community Comes Together to Mourn
The news of Charlize’s death sent shockwaves throughout Bribie Island, with friends and strangers alike leaving flowers at the beach.
A vigil was held at sunset to celebrate her life, and her mother, Renee, remembered her as a beautiful person who lived an incredible life.
“Please focus on the incredible life she lived and not the awful way she died,” she said.
A Message from Charlize’s Family
Stephen Zmuda wants people to remember his daughter’s love for the beach and not let fear stop them from enjoying it. “When I got the tragic news yesterday, I was extremely gutted,” he said.
“But something my wife and I want to say is we don’t want people to stop coming to the beach and enjoying our beach.”
Charlize’s death is the second fatal shark attack in Queensland in the past five weeks, with the beach closed for at least the rest of the week.
A Legacy Lives On
Charlize’s memory will live on through her family, friends, and the community she touched. Her story is a reminder to appreciate the beauty of life and to never take it for granted.
As her friend Lily McRae said, “Even if you weren’t her best friend, you could call her your best friend – she was beautiful.” Rest in peace, Charlize Zmuda.