A 57-year-old local surfer has been identified as the man who died after a shark attacked him off Dee Why Beach in Sydney on Saturday morning, police said.
New South Wales Police named the victim as Mercury Psillakis. Officers said he was retrieved from the surf and died at the scene after sustaining severe lower-body injuries. Inspector Stuart Thomson said investigators believed Mr. Psillakis lost "a number of limbs" in the attack.
Police said the attack occurred just after 10 a.m. and that Mr. Psillakis, an experienced local surfer and twin, had been in the water for about 30 minutes before he was attacked. A group of nearby surfers recovered his body and attempts to save his life were unsuccessful, police added.
Surf lifesavers immediately closed Dee Why Beach and authorities extended closures to neighbouring beaches between Manly and Narrabeen for at least 24 hours. A shark alarm had been triggered at nearby North Narrabeen earlier in the morning, at about 5:30 a.m., and lifeguards and a marine safety vessel were deployed to search the coastal area. Police said the search for the shark continued as far south as North Steyne, a distance of roughly 5.5 kilometres.
Two sections of a damaged surfboard were recovered and taken for expert examination as part of the investigation. Police said they were working with the state Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene on the sand after the attack, with relatives consoling each other and some people visibly distressed. One witness told reporters they saw a group of people "crying in a circle" near the water; other accounts said a relative collapsed on the beach and was supported by loved ones.
Mr. Psillakis is survived by his wife, Maria, and a young daughter. Police and local officials noted the tragedy was particularly painful for the family as Father’s Day fell the following day.
Authorities kept a visible presence in the area, with helicopters and patrol vessels scanning the water and detectives on the closed beach canvassing for further evidence. Surf nets are installed at Dee Why, but Long Reef to the north is not netted.
This is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 2022, when a diver was killed by a great white at Little Bay. State and local agencies have said they will continue to work with marine experts to identify the animal and assess any further public-safety measures.
Police asked anyone with information or footage of the area around Dee Why Beach on Saturday morning to come forward to assist the investigation. They did not provide an immediate estimate of when the beach would reopen.