UPDATE: A deadly shark attack has claimed the life of a father at Long Reef Beach in Sydney, Australia, prompting an urgent ocean hunt. 57-year-old Mercury Psillakis was killed in a shocking incident while surfing approximately 100 meters offshore on Saturday morning, marking Sydney’s second fatal shark attack since 1963.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 10 a.m. following distress calls about a man suffering critical injuries. Tragically, Psillakis was pronounced dead at the beach. Witnesses reported panic as a massive shark was spotted. “There was a guy screaming ‘I don’t want to get bitten,’ and I saw the dorsal fin of the shark come up and it was huge,” said eyewitness Mark Morgenthal. He described the shark’s size as potentially reaching six meters.
Authorities confirmed that Psillakis disappeared beneath the water with his surfboard, suffering severe injuries during the attack. “Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful,” stated New South Wales (NSW) Police Inspector Stuart Thomson at a press conference. Psillakis, an experienced surfer known for his passion for rare exotic plants, leaves behind a wife and young daughter, a loss felt deeply in the Northern Beaches community.
Currently, drone operators are scanning the waters for any signs of further shark activity. The beach remains closed as authorities work to ensure public safety. Locals are being urged to avoid the area until further notice, while lifeguards are actively preventing beachgoers from entering the water.
Police and shark biologists are conducting a thorough investigation, analyzing Psillakis’s body and fragments of his surfboard to identify the shark species involved. Local media reports indicate that this incident is considered a “freak occurrence” by Northern Beaches Police Area Commander John Duncan, stressing that fatal shark attacks in Sydney are extremely rare.
Historically, there has only been one other shark-related fatality in the past 60 years in Sydney. In 2022, diving instructor Simon Nellist was killed by a great white shark at Little Bay Beach. Prior to that, actress Marcia Hathaway was fatally mauled by a bull shark in 1963.
As a preventive measure, shark nets have been installed across 51 beaches in New South Wales, covering approximately 140 miles from Newcastle to Wollongong. This routine measure, implemented each year from September 1, aims to protect beachgoers during the warmer months when shark activity is notably higher.
Officials continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to stay informed and exercise caution. As this story develops, further updates will be provided regarding the ongoing shark hunt and safety measures in place.