Pictured: 'Talented' surfer, 15, killed by great white shark.

Khai Cawley, 15, was surfing near Ethel Beach on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula when he was mauled by a great white shark. : Facebook

Tributes have been paid to an «extraordinary» surfer after he was identified as the victim of a fatal shark attack on Thursday.

Khai Cawley, 15, has been described as a «talented young man». surfer after being mauled by a great white shark near Ethel Beach in South Australia.

His club said he was an «extraordinary» talent who followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle and won all three awards at a recent surf festival.

Khai was attacked while surfing near Yorke Peninsula Beach. west of Adelaide around 1:30 p.m.

Conditions are reported to be favorable for great whites, which often hunt in murky waters.

Ryan Valente, Local Captain, Reef Fishing Charter Encounters familiar with Marion Bay said conditions Thursday were «very bleak.»

He told ABC radio: «Lightning, strong winds and it was quite a dark day… This is the stuff nightmares are made of.»

Andrew Fox, a researcher at the Rodney Fox Shark Museum, said inclement weather was possible , has increased shark activity in the area, which has seen a total of three fatal attacks this year.

«They're more motivated — big swell, dirty water,» he told the ABC. Radio. “Anything that increases the likelihood of a predator attack.”

Kai was described as a «happy, kind and respectful child.» from a family of passionate surfers. Photo: Facebook

Steve Byrne, Kai's Principal at Cardane College, said: «The SA surfing community is a family unit and on behalf of the college I have offered to help where we can.

«Kai is fondly remembered as a talented young surfer and energetic teenager. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with his parents, Kate and Tim, and younger brother Jett.»

Port Noarlunga Football Club said High and his family had been part of the community for many years.

“[We are] absolutely shocked to hear this news,” it said.

< p >Surfing South Australia, the state's leading surfing body, said Khai was a «happy, kind and respectful child» and a «talented and much-loved member of our surfing community.»

Large Shark sightings in the waters Adelaide is not uncommon, a local fisherman told The Advertiser, adding: «We've seen some pretty big bronze sharks in the area, but that's normal here.»

He said the road to Ethel Beach was blocked by rangers after the attack on Khai, and the lack of mobile reception in the area meant he was unaware of what had happened until he returned to Marion Bay.

Luke Winter, who knew Khai and his family, told the ABC that he was also at Ethel Beach on Thursday but couldn't go on a jet ski because of the wind.

«It hits pretty close to home… I don't know what to do about it,» he said .