A 57-year-old man died in a fatal shark attack at Long Reef Beach in Sydney on Saturday morning at 10am, with witnesses reporting they heard him screaming “don’t bite me” moments before the tragedy. Emergency services responded to reports of critical injuries, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene after being brought to shore.
Terrifying Final Moments Captured by Witnesses
Witness Mark Morgenthal saw the attack unfold and described hearing the man screaming desperately in the water. “There was a guy screaming, ‘I don’t want to get bitten, I don’t want to get bitten, don’t bite me,'” Mr Morgenthal said to Sky News Australia. The witness observed the dorsal fin come up from the water, describing it as “huge” before seeing the tail fin start kicking.
Morgenthal estimated the distance between the dorsal fin and tail looked to be about four metres, suggesting the animal was actually a six-metre shark – one of the biggest he had ever seen. The sections of the victim’s surfboard were recovered and taken for examination by authorities.
Experienced Father Lost in Tragic Incident
New South Wales Police Superintendent John Duncan confirmed at a press conference that the victim was a 57 years old experienced surfer and father. The gentleman had gone out surfing at 9.30 that morning with five or six of his mates, Duncan added. “He’s an experienced surfer that we understand,” the Superintendent explained.
“Unfortunately, it would appear that a large, what we believe to be a shark, has attacked him,” Duncan said. As a result of the attack, the man lost a number of limbs. His colleagues managed to make it back to the beach safely, and a short time later, his body was found floating in the surf before other people went out and recovered it.
Community Reels from Father’s Day Tragedy
The incident has been called a “terrible tragedy” by officers, who understand the victim leaves behind a wife and young daughter. “Obviously tomorrow being Father’s Day is particularly critical and particularly tragic,” Duncan noted. Local surfer and eyewitness Bill Sakula told reporters at the beach that the attack is “going to send shockwaves through the community.”
“Everyone is going to be a little bit nervous for a while,” Sakula said. The tragic timing, occurring just before Father’s Day, has amplified the emotional impact on the Sydney surfing community who knew the victim as a dedicated father and experienced waterman.
Massive Search Operation Underway
Police are liaising with wildlife experts to determine the species of shark involved in this fatal attack. Beaches near the area have been closed as drones search for further shark activity. Surf Life Saving NSW has deployed specialized drone technology to monitor the waters around Long Reef Beach.
Chief executive Steve Pearce expressed that “our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy.” The search continues as authorities work to ensure public safety while the identity of the victim awaits official confirmation.
Rare Attack Breaks Sydney’s Safety Record
Shark attacks are very rare in Sydney waters, with this incident widely thought to be the first in New South Wales this year. The last time a person in Sydney was killed in a shark attack was in February 2022 – marking the city’s first fatal shark attack since 1963. This attack represents only the second fatal shark encounter in the city over six decades, highlighting just how unusual such incidents are in Sydney’s coastal waters.