Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington has revealed his tragic connection to the shattered family of a teenage girl who was fatally mauled by a shark – as her shattered father opens up about the dream his teen daughter will never realise.
Charlize Zmuda, 17, was swimming at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island on Queensland’s southeast coast on Monday afternoon when she was attacked.
Her shattered father Steven Zmuda appeared on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Wednesday to share how he would remember his beloved daughter.
‘So, Charlize, her major love was music. I wanted her to be a beach runner, like her dad was back in the day but I couldn’t convince her,’ he said.
‘She was a nipper from the age of eight at our club. She went on, as I have said to a few people, to be our nipper club captain a few years ago when I was the head of Bribie Island Nippers.
Shirvo said Charlize would be ‘forever remembered’ as he revealed the connection he shared with her grieving dad.
‘As you said she wanted to be like her dad. You and I ran together at at ASIC West in state relays and you were a good runner yourself, no doubt,’ he said.
‘The thing that I loved today was seeing the outpouring of the flowers and the people on the beach, she is going to be so well remembered by your community.’
Charlize Zmuda, 17, was swimming at Woorim Beach on Bribie Island on Queensland ‘s southeast coast on Monday afternoon when she was attacked
Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington (left) revealed he ran with Mr Smuda in Queensland’s state relay team decades before his teenage daughter would be fatally mauled by a shark
Mr Smuda encouraged Australians to return to the beach and to always swim between the red and yellow flags, something his daughter would have wished for
‘The only thing that she did wrong on that day was she didn’t swim between the flags and I did push for her to swim between the red and yellow flags,’ he said.
Shirvo said his thoughts were with the family as they processed the loss of Charlize.
‘Thank you, and I have actually spoken to you more in this interview than I did when we were relay running together, Matt, so thank you,’ Mr Smuda said.
‘I think it was one word, it was “hand” when you passed the baton,’ Shirvo quipped.
Nat Barr was brought to tears as Mr Smuda revealed his daughter’s final wish.
‘She is a… She was a vice captain of the patrol, she wanted to be patrol captain. I just want her to be remembered, that’s all,’ he said.
More than 2,000 locals gathered for an emotional vigil at the beach which was also attended by Charlize’s family and friends on Tuesday night.
Women embrace at a vigil for Charlize om Bribie Island on Tuesday night
Steven Zmuda (centre) appeared on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Wednesday to share how he would remember his beloved daughter Charlize
Flowers were placed in the water, along with lit candles and later released bright green and yellow balloons into the sky.
Mr Zmuda addressed the crowd from within a circle that formed on the beach, before laying the first of many candles.
Other family members also shared stories and heartfelt tributes about the 17-year-old as grieving locals embraced each other.
Charlize was a Bribie Island resident and a surf lifesaver for the local club.
Her family and friends got up early on Tuesday morning to watch the sunrise at Woorim Beach, where Charlize swam every day.
She was attacked while swimming 100metres offshore at the south-east tip of the island with police rushing to the shore after beachgoers heard ‘piercing’ screams.
People initially thought Charlize had been caught in a rip, but it soon became apparent she had suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries to her upper arm and torso.
Woorim Beach will remain closed until at least Friday.
