With shark control measures under review in the wake of Charlize Zmuda’s death, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has declared “people have to come first”.
With shark control measures under review in the wake of Charlize Zmuda’s death, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has declared “people have to come first”.
By Cloe Read, Sean Parnell and Courtney Kruk
February 4, 2025 — 12.18pm
A shark was spotted and drumlines were baited along Bribie Island’s coast in the days before a teenage girl was killed in an attack while swimming 100 metres offshore.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, died on Monday afternoon after she was bitten by a shark at Woorim Beach, north of Brisbane, just before 5pm.
Her mother, Renee Zmuda, remembered her daughter as a shining light who touched the lives of everyone she met.
“She loved the beach, and it truly was her happiest place on Earth,” she said on Tuesday, as friends and family gathered to lay flowers at the beach.
Ms Zmuda said her daughter loved four-wheel-driving up the beach.
“Anyone who went with her knew they would have to stop and pick up every piece of rubbish she saw along the way,” she said.
Charlize had been a member of the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club since she was young, and was considered a skilled lifesaver.
“She was a Bribie Island Nipper from the tender age of eight and was the vice-captain of her patrol, competed with the IRB team in the World Championships last year, and was also inspiring the current Bribie Nippers as an under nines age manager,” Ms Zmuda said.
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Charlize’s father Steven, the head of the local Nippers, said he and his wife did not want people to stop coming to the beach.
He said the beach was a big part of the family’s life, while his daughter was also musically talented.
“She gave and dedicated so much time … because she loved it,” he said.
“There’s so many photos of her on the beach patrolling.
“There was one time on patrol not long ago that she was singing … I had so many people come up and say she was so talented as a singer and, as a dad, that made me so proud.”
The Department of Primary Industries confirmed on Tuesday shark drumlines off Woorim were last baited on Saturday.
According to the department, no sharks had been caught on these drumlines this year. Three were caught there last year.
“A shark was spotted in the area on January 27, 2025, during one of our drone trials operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland. The species was not determined.”
The species of shark that killed Charlize has not been identified. At the time, there were murky conditions, overcast skies, and minimal surf.
The Queensland Shark Management Plan was due to expire this year, and the state government had been considering a KPMG review of the Shark Control Program, completed in late 2024.
Asked about the report on Tuesday, Premier David Crisafulli said the relevant minister would consider the findings.
“People have to come first,” Crisafulli said. “The safety of humans always has to come before the welfare of a shark, and I’m incredibly saddened by what’s happened.”
The drumlines are located off Rickman Parade, while a protected fish habitat is further north.
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It was the first shark attack in Greater Brisbane since 2006, when 21-year-old Sarah Whiley died at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island.
Since then, there have been fatalities on the Gold Coast and K’gari, as well as further north, particularly around the Whitsundays.
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Sean Parnell is the Editor of Brisbane Times. He has won journalism awards for analysis, investigations, news and sport, written a biography, and has a Graduate Certificate in (Digital) Business Administration. Sean lives in Brisbane with his family.Connect via Twitter or email.
Courtney Kruk is City Reporter at Brisbane Times, writing about the city and its people.
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