Heroic final act of surfer moments before he was killed by shark in Sydney

A surfer who was mauled to death by a shark spent his final moments trying to warn his friends about the beast to keep them safe.

Mercury Psillakis, 57, lost "a number of limbs" and had to be reportedly dragged by fellow surfers to the shore at Dee Why Beach in Sydney shortly after 10am local time (0:00GMT). The experienced surfer had only been in the water for around 30 minutes when a shark violently attacked him.

Police Inspector Stuart Thomson said Mr Psillakis suffered “catastrophic injuries” including the loss of several limbs. “His (friends) managed to make it back to the beach safely and a short time later his body was found floating in the surf and a couple of other people went out and recovered it,” Mr Thomson said. “Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.”

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Mr Psillakis' close friend Toby Martin, a former pro surfer, rushed to the beach shortly after the attack alongside Mr Psillakis' wife, Maria. Toby said: "He was at the back of the pack still trying to get everyone together when the shark just lined him up,' he told theDaily Telegraph.

He added: "It came straight from behind and breached and dropped straight on him. It's the worst-case scenario. They normally come from the side, but this one came straight from behind, breached and dropped on him. It was so quick."

Horrified onlookers watched as the surfers brought Mr Psillakis' mangled remains to shore, doing their best to block the brutal scene with their boards.

The latest NWS police statement reads: "A man has died on the Northern Beaches after being bitten by what is believed to have been a large shark. Emergency services were called to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10am (Saturday 6 September 2025), responding to reports a man had suffered critical injuries.

"He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, died at the scene. Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.

"Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination. Beaches between Manly to Narrabeen have been closed pending further advice."

While the species of shark in Saturday's attack hasn't been identified, its swift and precise nature had the hallmarks of a great white