Charlie Cernobori’s family pay touching tribute to Broome shark attack victim following Cable Beach tragedy

The partner of Broome shark attack victim Charlie Cernobori said she’s heartbroken by his tragic death at the popular Cable Beach on Sunday morning. The 59-year-old who reportedly worked at the Mangrove Hotel was killed while bodyboarding 30 metres offshore, when he was attacked by what is suspected to have been a tiger shark. Dubbed “love birds” by friends, Mr Cernobori’s partner Sandra Howard expressed her grief on social media in the wake of the tragedy. “This is with a heavy heart that I do this... I would like to let my family and friends (know) that my darling Charlie was taken from me today. “My heart is broken and I hurt so much. “Love you always, Charlie.” The couple are understood to have lived at the Cable Beach Caravan Park for several years. In a moving family tribute, he has also been remembered in a poem by his eldest daughter Krissy Wescombe (nee Cernobori). “Love leaves a memory no one can steal, but death leaves a memory no one can heal “Goodbyes are not forever, “Goodbyes are not the end, “They simply mean I’ll miss you, “Until we meet again. “We miss you so much, “And cherish the memories of the time we spent with you.” Mr Cernobori also had two younger daughters, Cathryn and Casey Cernobori. He had lived in South Australia with his daughters and ex-wife, until leaving about 22 years ago. Across the past two decades, it’s understood Mr Cernobori lived in several different regional centres before ending up in a Broome caravan park. He has four grandchildren in SA, who he never met. Cathryn Cernobori, 34, said she was 15-years-old when her father left and she only saw him a handful of times since. Tributes also flowed for the father-of-three from those in the closely knit tourism town, remembering him as a “hardworking” man. “Hard to believe that a life can go so quickly. I remember Charlie as a guy who would turn his hand to any task. He was a son-in-law who was a hard worker and will be sadly missed by many people. Go in peace Charlie,” Colin Wilkinson said. Mr Cernobori was recovered from the water and treated by local police before St John Ambulance arrived, but he could not be saved. Police fired shots at the three-to-four metre shark, which remained very close to the shore for about half an hour and is yet to be found. WA’s fisheries department deployed a patrol vessel to monitor the area but all local beaches have since reopened. Police praised the efforts of a couple on the beach who saw Mr Cernobori thrashing in the water, dragged him onto the sand and called for an ambulance. Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley will travel to Broome today to meet with community leaders in the wake of the tragedy.