A FORMER Padiham man has been killed by a shark while spearfishing on the Great Barrier Reef.

Mark Thompson, 38, suffered massive blood loss, caused by deep leg wounds, and a cardiac arrest after being attacked by the shark off the Queensland coast.

A police spokesman said he was around 15metres from the boat when the shark, believed to be a tiger shark, attacked.

Friends dragged him out of the water but he died soon afterwards. His body was taken back to shore by a rescue helicopter scrambled to the scene.

Police called to investigate interview his fishing friends when they returned to the Yorkeys Knob area, north of Cairns.

Mr Thompson's wife, Caroline, whose maiden name is Whalley, who he met while a pupil at St Augustine's High School, Billington, is being comforted by family and friends.

Tiger sharks, part of the whaler family, grow up to three metres long.

The couple moved to Australia 16 years ago to start a new life.

The couple have an 10-year-old daughter, Natasha, who was born five years after they moved from East Lancashire to Cairns, where they set up an upholstery business.

They last lived in Padiham before they emigrated and both still have family there, and in the Ribble Valley.

A statement by Mr Thompson's brother-in-law Albert Whiitaker, said: "Mark was a very loving husband and devoted father to his 10-year-old daughter.

"His daughter shared a special bond with her father and is devastated and lost at his suddent and tragic death."

Mr Whittaker added: "We are all grieving. The family business and staff are also struggling with the loss of Mark.

"Mark loved life to the full and is a very adverturous, fun-loving man." And he warned that such an attack could happen to anyone. He said: "This could happen to anyone, any time." Friends added Mr Thompson had recently nursed Natasha back to health after a serious bike accident earlier this year.

Friend Michael Sims said he had introduced Mr Thompson to spearfishing - which involves fishermen entering the water and using small harpoon-like instruments to catch big fish - around 15 years ago.

He said: "The sport became his life, but was second to the love for his family.

"He had only just come back from one trip away. He used to go out heaps. "He loved spearfishing and took to it right away." Les Marsh, owner of a charter fishing company based in the area, said: "Mark regularly went spearfishing on that reef. Everybody is so upset by what happened."

Mr Thompson's funeral was held this morning and family, including mother Anne, flew to Australia for service.