It was a typical day at Woorim Beach—a stretch of coastline known for its beauty, surf, and sense of community.
But for Steve Zmuda, that ordinary day turned into a living nightmare. The sound of sirens shattered the peaceful afternoon, signaling that something was terribly wrong. He never imagined that the victim of the unfolding tragedy would be his own daughter—17-year-old Charlize Zmuda.
As news spread of a shark attack at the beach, Steve did what any parent would do: he started calling friends, desperate for information. But nothing could have prepared him for the moment he heard the unthinkable.
“I asked, ‘Is it a fatality? Do we know who it is?’” Steve recalled. “Then I heard, ‘Steve, I have to tell you, it’s Charlize.’ I thought it was a joke. I screamed so loud the neighbors ran out of their houses.”
Overcome with shock and grief, Steve tried to call his wife, Rene, but couldn’t find the words. The weight of what had happened was too heavy to speak.
“I knew something was wrong because he couldn’t say anything,” Rene later shared with The Daily Telegraph. “I screamed, ‘Just tell me!’ But I never expected it would be our girl.”
Unable to sit still, Rene rushed to the ambulance, hoping against hope that what she had heard wasn’t true. But it was. Their daughter—bright, loving, full of life—was gone.
A Community in Mourning
Charlize was more than just a daughter. She was a shining light in the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club, where she’d been a member since she was eight years old. Her father, who leads the Nippers program at Woorim Beach, spoke of her love for the ocean and her dedication to service.
“She was a committed lifesaver,” Steve said. “Always eager to help, always ready to give back to the club and the community.”
In a tragic twist of fate, Charlize had been swimming outside the red and yellow flags—the designated safe swimming zones. Her father, heartbroken but resolute, urged others not to make the same mistake.
“We don’t want people to be afraid of the beach,” Steve told 9News. “But we do want them to be careful. Charlize would want people to enjoy the ocean safely.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland echoed the family’s grief, releasing a heartfelt tribute:
“A 17-year-old member of the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club tragically lost her life in a shark incident. She and her family have long been cherished members of our lifesaving community. Our hearts are broken.”
The statement continued,
“Surf lifesaving is more than a service—it’s a family. Today, we’ve lost one of our own. We stand together in mourning and extend our deepest sympathies to Charlize’s loved ones.”
Holding Onto Her Legacy
Charlize Zmuda was described by those who knew her as a radiant soul, someone whose kindness, enthusiasm, and courage left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
“She was light,” Rene said. “She touched lives in a way that only someone truly special can.”
Conclusion
The loss of Charlize Zmuda is a heartbreak that words can scarcely contain. Her passing reminds us of the ocean’s unpredictable nature, but also of the immense love and dedication that exist within the surf lifesaving community. Through their grief, Steve and Rene Zmuda are choosing to honor their daughter’s life by continuing to promote safety, awareness, and compassion at the beach she loved so deeply.
Charlize’s memory will live on—in the stories shared, in the lives she saved, and in the hearts of those forever changed by her presence.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Zmuda family and all who knew and loved Charlize.
Please share this story to raise awareness and help honor a life that ended far too soon, but whose legacy will continue to shine.