A prominent Gold Coast photographer who made his name taking photos of beautiful landscapes and awe-inspiring storms has died while travelling in the US.
Dale Sharpe, 36, was travelling through Kansas on June 20 when his car hit a deer and began letting out smoke. A post to Sharpe’s social media accounts says the avid storm chaser and landscape photographer had left his vehicle and sought refuge in a ditch on the side of the road.
Later, a passing motorist veered away from Sharpe’s stranded vehicle “at the last moment” and drove into the ditch Sharpe had been seeking refuge in, hitting him.
He was treated by health care professionals at the scene and in hospital, but died in the early hours of Friday morning.
Sharpe’s photography business, DK Photography, had over 130,000 followers on social media. Fans and photographers around the world mourned Sharpe’s death on social media, calling him one of the greats.
Early this morning we lost a great Australian talent. World renowned photographer and storm chaser, Dale Sharpe.
Dale was involved in a fatal vehicle accident early this morning in Kansas.
Goodbye my friend. May your dear soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/pR9ZifQley
— Daniel Shaw (@DanielShawAU) June 20, 2019
Just got the devastating news that one of my personal heroes, and indeed, friend, Dale Sharpe (DK Photography) passed away in Kansas while chasing a storm. I’m in utter disbelief. I’ll miss him, he was larger than life. pic.twitter.com/Fo8i9SYjXQ
— Cornelius P. Chesterford (@norks) June 20, 2019
Deeply saddened at the sudden passing of world renowned #GoldCoast photographer Dale Sharpe, killed in a traffic accident while on the trip of a lifetime in Kansas, U.S 😓💔 His family have released a statement. You can read it here: https://t.co/40JGsjfLxS pic.twitter.com/fxsNN2FTs0
— Jaydan Duck (@JaydanDuck) June 20, 2019
Sharpe made worldwide headlines in 2017 when photos of him proposing to his wife, Karlie, under the Northern Lights went viral.
The pair have a young daughter, born in September last year.
