A final tribute to shark attack victim Peter Edmonds
Family, friends and fellow surfers gathered at Lennox Head last Saturday to bid one final farewell to Ballina shark attack victim Peter Edmonds.
Peter, 16, of Wollongbar, died after being attacked at North Wall, Ballina, on April 8.
Last Saturday Peter’s ashes were scattered into the ocean.
After a brief ceremony on the beach at the Lennox Head spot known as the Bream Hole, friends and surfing mates performed a symbolic paddle-out.
Peter’s father Neil, a keen surfer himself, paddled out on his malibu.
Lisa, his mother, and other family members and friends were taken out in the Lennox Head-Alstonville surf club’s inflatable rescue boats.
Surrounded by a ring of surfers and with Lisa near him in one of the boats, Neil poured Peter’s ashes into the ocean.
A deeply religious man, Neil then raised both arms skywards.
Among those attending today’s ceremony was Brock Curtis-Mathew, who was bodyboarding with Peter at the time of the attack.
Brock heroically returned Peter to the beach in an effort to save his mate.
Members of the Lennox Longboarders, a club with which Peter and his father were members of, formed a guard of honour with their mals as Neil entered the water.
Peter was remembered by all who knew him as a ‘gentle giant’ and one of nature’s true gentlemen.
PICTURES (from top): Neil Edmonds raises both arms skywards after scattering Peter’s ashes; (below) members of the Lennox Longboarders form a guard of honour; surfers paddle out to pay one final tribute to their mate and fellow surfer.
