I promise to tell our baby how much you loved that little bubba
On a Father's Day morning in 2021, a 31-year-old man named Timothy Thompson paddled into the surf at Shelly Beach near Coffs Harbour, Australia, and did not return. Attacked by a great white shark, he died despite the desperate efforts of strangers and emergency crews who gathered around him on the sand. He left behind a pregnant wife and a child who will know their father only through the words of those who loved him — a grief that arrives before a life has even begun.
- A young man on the cusp of fatherhood was killed by a great white shark on the very morning the world celebrates fathers, sharpening the tragedy to an almost unbearable point.
- Fellow surfers, bystanders, paramedics, and a critical care doctor winched from a helicopter all converged on the beach in a frantic effort to save him — but the injury was beyond what any of them could overcome.
- His wife Kate, pregnant with their child, had received a kiss and the words 'I love you two' just hours before she learned she was now alone, her grief compounded by the life still growing inside her.
- A paramedic broke down in tears at the press briefing, a GoFundMe campaign surged with community support, and Shelly Beach fell silent — a community absorbing a loss that felt both sudden and permanent.
- NSW authorities deployed drones, SMART drumlines, and shark-tagging operations across the coastline in the aftermath, a systematic response that could do nothing to undo what the morning had already taken.
Timothy Thompson was 31 years old and weeks away from becoming a father when he paddled out at Shelly Beach near Emerald Beach on the NSW mid north coast on the morning of Father's Day, September 5, 2021. Before leaving the house, he kissed his pregnant wife Kate and her belly and told her, "I love you two." Just before 11am, a great white shark attacked him in the water, inflicting injuries so severe that despite the immediate efforts of fellow surfers, bystanders performing CPR, makeshift tourniquets, four ambulance crews, and a critical care doctor winched down from a Westpac rescue helicopter, he could not be saved.
In the days that followed, Kate released a statement that carried the full weight of a future rewritten without warning. She described her disbelief, her heartbreak, and the promise she made to the child she was still carrying — that she would tell them every day how kind and loving their father was, how much he loved to surf, how he had loved them before they were even born. "I hope Timmy is up there surfing the best barrels and watching over us," she wrote.
At a press briefing on the beach, paramedic Chris Wilson broke down as he spoke about the bravery of the bystanders and surfers who had rushed to help, and the devastation felt by everyone present. Friends of the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Kate and cover funeral costs, with organiser Bronte Graham describing Timothy as "the most kind, generous and loveable man."
Shelly Beach was closed and the NSW Department of Primary Industries activated its Shark Incident Response Plan, deploying drones, SMART drumlines, and tagging great white sharks along the coastline from Port Macquarie to Ballina. Scientists confirmed from bite analysis that the attack had been carried out by a great white. The ocean was being watched — but for Kate, for her unborn child, and for the community that had witnessed the morning's events, the watching had come far too late.
Timothy Thompson was 31 years old and about to become a father. On Father's Day morning, September 5, 2021, he paddled out at Shelly Beach near Emerald Beach on the NSW mid north coast, about 20 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour. It was just before 11 in the morning. A great white shark attacked him in the water, mauling his arm with such force that despite the immediate intervention of fellow surfers, paramedics, critical care doctors, and bystanders who performed CPR and applied makeshift tourniquets, he could not be saved.
His wife Kate was pregnant. The last words Timothy spoke to her before he left for the beach that morning were simple: "I love you two." He kissed her and her belly goodbye. By the time emergency services arrived—a critical care doctor winched down from a Westpac helicopter, four ambulance crews, local surfers who waded in to help—the injury was beyond recovery. The man who had never spoken a bad word about anybody, who was known for his kindness and generosity, was gone.
Kate Thompson released a statement in the days after, her words carrying the weight of a future suddenly rewritten. "To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement," she wrote. "I'm just waiting for someone to tell me this isn't real." She made a promise to the child she was carrying: that she would tell them every day how amazing their father was, how he loved them before they were even born, how much he loved to surf. "I hope Timmy is up there doing what he loves: surfing the best barrels and watching over us."
Chris Wilson, a paramedic with NSW Ambulance, addressed reporters on the beach afterward and broke down in tears. He described the scene—the bystanders and fellow surfers who came to Timothy's aid, their bravery in a situation no one should have to face, the collective effort of everyone present to save a life. "It was devastating for everybody on the beach this morning," he said, his voice cracking. "Despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn't be revived."
Friends of the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and to support Kate as she prepared for the birth of their child without him. Bronte Graham, who organized the fundraiser, described Timothy as "the most kind, generous and loveable man." The campaign became a way for the community to hold space for a loss that should never have happened.
Shelly Beach was closed immediately and remained shut the following day. The NSW Department of Primary Industries deployed SMART drumlines, drones, and monitoring equipment to the area as part of their Shark Incident Response Plan. Scientists analyzed photographs of the bite and confirmed that a great white shark was responsible. On the same day as the attack, DPI teams tagged great whites at Port Macquarie, 150 kilometres south of Emerald Beach, at Ballina, 200 kilometres to the north, and at Main Beach near Forster. The ocean, which had taken Timothy Thompson, was being watched now. But for Kate, for their unborn child, for the community that had witnessed the tragedy, the watching came too late.
Citas Notables
To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I'm just waiting for someone to tell me this isn't real.— Kate Thompson, Timothy's wife
Despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn't be revived.— Chris Wilson, NSW Ambulance paramedic
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What was Timothy Thompson doing when this happened?
He was surfing. It was Father's Day morning, just before 11 o'clock. He'd kissed his pregnant wife goodbye and told her he loved her—loved them both. That was the last thing he said.
How quickly did help arrive?
Fellow surfers got him to shore immediately. They applied a tourniquet, started CPR. A critical care doctor was winched down from a helicopter. Four ambulance crews came. Everyone did everything they could. It wasn't enough.
His wife was pregnant?
Yes. She wrote that she'd tell their child every day how amazing their father was, how kind he was. She promised to tell them he loved them before they were even born.
What did the paramedic say?
He broke down. He said it was devastating for everyone on the beach, that the bystanders and surfers were incredibly brave. But despite everything—despite all of them—they couldn't revive him.
What happened after?
The beach was closed. Authorities deployed drones and special drumlines to monitor for sharks. They tagged great whites up and down the coast. Friends started a fundraiser to help his wife with funeral costs and preparing for birth alone.
Do we know what kind of shark it was?
Scientists analyzed the bite marks. They confirmed it was a great white.