Last photo of a boy, 2, playing in the sand as his dad snorkels behind seconds before a shark attack

Seemingly innocent photo of a boy, two, playing at the beach as his dad snorkels in the water behind him disguises the tragedy about to unfold

  • Ordinary holiday photo inadvertently captures last seconds of beloved dad’s life
  • Image snaps Duncan Craw, 32, snorkeling as his son Levi, 2, plays on the sand
  • Seconds later, Duncan died of natural causes and his body was eaten by a shark
  • Family were camping at Port MacDonnell, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast 
  • GoFundMe page raises more than $41,800 to support young Levi, left fatherless 

A picture of a toddler playing by the water’s edge as his father snorkels behind was hauntingly snapped moments before a great white shark attacked the dad. 

Taylia Craw had no idea that this would be the last happy photo of her two-year-old son Levi together with his father, Duncan, 32, of Warrnambool in western Victoria.

The young family had been camping at Port MacDonnell on South Australia’s Limestone Coast last month when Mr Craw disappeared in the water about 5pm as his wife and son enjoyed the beach, unaware something was wrong.

Haunting picture captures last seconds of Duncan Craw’s life as he snorkles in the distance while his toddler son Levi plays on the sand at Port MacDonnell, SA. Moments later he died of natural causes and a great white shark then ate his body 

As Levi plays with his yellow spade on the sand in the foreground, Duncan Craw can be seen in distance, to the top left of the little boy.

He is snorkelling, looking at the marine life, enjoying the water with his family.

Minutes later he was gone, his last moments of life captured in a picture that will forever haunt Taylia and her toddler son.

Taylia was on the sand when she lost sight of him. 

‘He was the best father to Levi and a beautiful husband and best friend to Tay, his high-school sweetheart,’ the family said in a statement. 

This picture shows an enhanced frame of the tiny figure of Duncan, 32, in the background

This picture shows an enhanced frame of the tiny figure of Duncan, 32, in the background

The operations manager at Monk and Son Ag Services had been working harvesting crops along the Murray River in northern Victoria and had been looking forward to his hard earned break of a few days on the beach with his wife and son.

It is believed Mr Craw died suddenly from an undisclosed natural cause before his body was eaten by a great white shark that was seen in the area.

His remains were found in the water near the popular scenic spot on Tuesday after search teams earlier recovered a torn wetsuit and flippers from the scene. 

Mr Craw had been on a camping trip with his wife Taylia and their two-year-old son Levi (pictured together). The father's remains were found in the water

Mr Craw had been on a camping trip with his wife Taylia and their two-year-old son Levi (pictured together). The father’s remains were found in the water 

‘While we may never know for sure, based on the evidence we do have, we now believe it is most likely Duncan suffered a medical episode long before the arrival of the shark,’ the family said in a statement. 

‘It brings us comfort to know that he would have passed away peacefully in the water.’  

Mr Craw’s friends and family held a memorial gathering for the fun-loving cricket fan on Sunday. 

Friend and colleague Sam Monk told Channel Nine that his friends and colleagues would use his tractor to help keep up his family’s farm and business to provide an income for his young family.

The family have vowed to keep pursuing a healthy outdoors lifestyle in Duncan’s memory.

‘We want everyone to know the ocean is still a place of peace and beauty for us,’ they said.

Mr Craw went missing from waters off Port MacDonnell

Mr Craw went missing from waters off Port MacDonnell 

Victorian father Duncan Craw was previously thought to have been the victim of a shark attack but his family said it was now believed he had suffered a medical episode

Victorian father Duncan Craw was previously thought to have been the victim of a shark attack but his family said it was now believed he had suffered a medical episode

‘We will keep enjoying the outdoors, remembering Duncan as we do so.’

Their energy will now go into ensuring a future for Duncan’s young son Levi who has been tragically left to grow up without the dad who thought the world of him. 

A Gofundme account named Duncan’s Legacy for Levi has now been set up to help support his son’s future.

‘Levi now knows his daddy is in heaven, and Duncan’s family and friends are determined to ensure he will remember how much Duncan loved his little man,’ the fundraiser says. 

It had raised more than $41,800 on Sunday night from 261 donors.

‘The last week has been extremely traumatic for all of us but having Levi to look at, it’s just giving us that little bit of strength to keep moving forward,’ Mr Craw’s brother-in-law Bret Trigg told 9News.