Shark attack victim Ben Gerring was looking forward to becoming a father but now people are rallying to raise money for the baby he'll never see.
The 29-year-old fly-in fly-out worker died on Friday night at Royal Perth Hospital after he was mauled by a shark at Gearies break in Falcon, south of Perth, on Tuesday afternoon.
The GoFundMe page was set up when Mr Gerring was placed in an induced coma, to help him and his fiancee Jasmine Boyer.
But since his death, friends, surfers and strangers have continued to donate money to the grieving family, raising more than $42,400 in just a few days.
Erika Magness posted: "Ben you were the kindest soul and you will never be forgotten. You have left such a beautiful gift - your's and Jasmine's baby. Jas, wish I could take your pain away."
Dann Evans wrote: "Benny, may the warm perfect swell lines march towards you for perfect surf and fishing in the next life."
Alison Devenish said: "RIP Ben, hopefully your beautiful partner can find some solace in the outpouring of support from the WA community."
Jenn West posted: "Your little bub will be proud just to know what a champion his/her daddy was. Keep smiling that beautiful smile as you ride that big wave."
Carolyn Watt wrote: "I wish like nothing on earth that you and your beautiful partner and baby could be here to enjoy your future together in this gorgeous place."
Mr Gerring's brother, Rick, thanked the "heroes" who tried to save the surfer.
"Ben was a naturally gifted sportsman, whether it was track and field, skateboarding, snowboarding or surfing," he told reporters on Saturday.
"Ben loved the ocean, crabbing and surfing, but his greatest love is and always will be Jasmine.
"He was so proud to become a father and a husband."
Mr Gerring's father, Shane, described those who tried to save his son as "angels of the ocean" and said he opposed a shark cull.
"Instead of shooting sharks, let's tag them," he told The Sunday Times newspaper.
"We've also got to get better at communications so people can get on their phone, get an App and go, `Yep, there's a shark sighting, it's in the area', before they go for a surf.
"If you kill sharks, you're going to kill that ocean. I don't blame the shark at all."
Ms Boyer has posted photographs of herself with Mr Gerring on social media.
