According to local media, experienced surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, was reportedly pulled from the water at Dee Why Beach in Sydney following a terrifying shark attack
A shark savagely killed a surfer on a popular beach, causing him to lose a “number of limbs” during a horrific attack.
According to local media, Mercury Psillakis, 57, was reportedly dragged by fellow surfers at Dee Why Beach in Sydney shortly after 10am local time on Saturday (0:00 GMT). Emergency services rushed to the beach after “a man suffered critical injuries”, losing a “number of limbs”, according to police.
The seasoned surfer had only been in the water for around 30 minutes when he was attacked 328ft from the shore. The victim was hauled to the beach by other surfers.
“He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, died at the scene,” NSW Police said in a statement.
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“His body was found floating in the surf, and a couple of other people went out and recovered it but attempts to save his life were unsuccessful,’ Inspector Stuart Thomson from the Northern Beaches Police Area Command revealed.
“We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter – with tomorrow being Father’s Day, it’s particularly tragic.”
Surf Lifesavers confirmed Dee Why Beach would be closed until further notice. Beaches between Manly and Narrabeen will also remain closed for at least 24 hours.
“Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts to determine the species of shark involved,” police said.
“Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination.”
According to eyewitnesses, a marine safety vessel could be seen searching the waters for the shark, which experts predicted was a great white. One said they saw “at least four helicopters flying overhead in just ten minutes.”
The last fatal shark attack in Sydney was in 2022, when Simon Nellist, a Brit diving instructor, was tragically mauled by a great white shark.
Before that, there had not been a fatal shark attack since 1963.
Although Australia reports around 20 shark attacks each year, mainly in New South Wales and Western Australia, dying from a shark bite is rare. Australia’s shark attack mortality rate is 0.9, which is less than one person per year.
It comes after an eight-year-old girl was left severely injured in a horrifying shark attack after the predator ripped a chunk of her leg off.
Harper Ochoa, from Texas, was left in a pool of blood during what was supposed to be a fun family holiday to Galveston. The youngster went to play in the shallow waters of the beach last Saturday, and screamed in terror as the shark sank its teeth into her leg.