Zac Young (R) with Youth For Christ

Christian surfer Zac Young has died following a shark attack near Coffs Harbour on Saturday. The 19-year-old was just about to start an apprenticeship with Christian Surfers and Youth for Christ, and has been described by his pastor as wanting to “give his life over to telling the whole world about Jesus”.

Lead Pastor of Point Community Church, Steve Covetz told Eternity: “I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. Sometimes we exaggerate things in memory of someone, but Zac said that himself.”

Zac was out body boarding at Reicks Point, north of Coffs Harbour with three mates on Saturday when a shark tore apart his legs. His friends risked their lives to bring him back to shore on one of their boards with the shark still circling nearby.

The Australian reports one of his friends, Kurt Gillan, recalls Zac praying as they brought him to the beach: “He began to pray ‘please God, my lord and Saviour, help protect my friends and help me through this time of need’. He then went unconscious,” Kurt wrote on Facebook.

Shortly after making it to the shore, the 19-year-old surfer went into cardiac arrest and died.

Pastor Steve says the tragic news soon reached him through the Christian surfing community.

“Word travels really quickly; I got a phone call from someone at church and straight away experienced that whole initial-‘I don’t believe it’ thing. There’s a lot of talk around church at the moment about the surreal nature of this.

“But then it’s also quickly shifted into a whole bunch of people that need care, including myself. We’re all grieving. You know, there were three young guys in the surf with him who had to bring him back to the shore.”

Zac surfing

Zac’s church held a memorial service for him yesterday, which was attended by more than 500 people.

After the service, a large group of Christian surfers went to a local beach and prayed before taking to the water on their boards and forming a circle for a minute’s silence in memory of Zac. The event was covered by every national news service.

Zac’s pastor says he’d grown up in a Christian family and been connected to the church for about six years, but it was only in the last two years that he started to really own his faith. Yesterday at church, Zac’s Dad Kevin implored those present to consider the God Zac loved.

“His Dad’s big message was that Zac would’ve wanted you to hear about his God and his saviour, so as you walk out of this church, please be thinking about the impact God can have in your life,” Steve told Eternity. “Only Kevin could’ve done that as clearly as he did. We’re there to grieve, not bash people over the head with the Gospel, but it was very appropriate for Kevin to do that.”

Pastor Steve says he’s had numerous phone calls from Christians around the country letting him know they’re praying for Zac’s family and community, something he says has given them strength at such a difficult time.

“God is answering prayers from Christians all around this country from Christians helping our church grieve through this. We don’t want to be going through this, but we are with hope and God is answering those prayers.”

He says the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13—‘You do not grieve like the rest of the [the world], who have no hope’—have come true as their community has held onto the reality of Jesus’ Lordship, and the eternal life on offer to those who trust in him.

“Last night I was just thanking God that in such an emotional event, we didn’t have to make anything up yesterday. He is our hope.

“We follow a resurrected, alive, ruling, reigning king and there’s a hope. We’re not making it up, we’re not just trying to use clichés to help people get through the day. Our hope is real in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. I was very thankful last night to rest well because of that hope.”

Images taken from the In Memory of Zac Facebook page.