The Esperance community has gathered to pay a heartfelt tribute to shark attack victim 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer.
United by the tragedy, more than 70 local surfers formed a circle on Sunday and, in an old surfing tradition, splashed water into the air as a tribute to the ocean-loving girl.
Hundreds of people lined the man-made groyne and James Street Jetty to watch the sombre vigil.
Frangipanes, Laeticia’s favourite flower, were thrown into the water by attending community members and a love-heart shaped wreath was placed in the middle of the circle formed by the surfers.
The local paddle out and minute silence coincided with a similar memorial held by the Brouwer family in Singleton near Mandurah.
Esperance Shire president Victoria Brown addressed the crowd gathered at the Whale Tail before the memorial, honouring Laeticia’s memory.
“I know this has affected our community in so many ways, but particularity the surfing community community and those people who love to surf Kelpies,” she said.
“It’s a bitter blow, not the first tragedy but sadly the first fatality.”
One of the memorial organisers Ross Tamlin read a letter from the Brouwer family.
“If Teesh was here today she would be overwhelmed and very embarrassed by all the attention,” Mr Tamlin read on behalf of the family.
“The beach has always been a special place and she [loved] catching waves with her sisters Alyssa and Eden and most of all her dad.
“When surfing with family friends, she would encourage them… pushing them into waves, coaching with a laugh and a giggle.
“She loved the ocean with all that it contained most of all and has been surfing as soon as she could stand.”
The family made special mention to community paramedic Paul Gaughan and Esperance Police Sergeant Todd Pender for going “above and beyond the call off duty” in the days that followed the tragedy.
“There were also many people who stopped on the beach that day to help… even simply staying with our youngest daughter or providing a jacket.
“The off-duty nurse who pumped Laeticia’s heart when she couldn’t… we can’t thank you all enough.
“Through making our beaches safer, it is our wish that this beautiful coastline of ours can be used with minimal risk and fear.”
Laeticia had celebrated her seventeenth birthday with friends around a campfire the Saturday before going to Esperance.
