The grieving family of fatal shark attack victim Mercury Psillakis have spoken out in the wake of the tragedy, expressing heartbreak and gratitude for the kindness shown by first responders.
Mercury’s sister, Eleni Psillakis, shared her sorrow in a moving Facebook post, thanking the lifeguards who cared for her brother in his final moments and honouring the ‘beautiful’ memorial they created in his memory.
Mr Psillakis, 57, died while surfing with mates off Sydney‘s Long Reef Beach near Dee Why on the northern beaches on Saturday morning.
On Monday nearby Manly beach was cleared by lifeguards who pulled swimmers onto their rescue jet skis after a fresh alarm was sparked by the sighting of a great white shark in the water.
Mr Psillakis was a well-known personality on the northern beaches surf scene along with his twin brother Mike, a renowned surfboard shaper at Psillakis Surfboards and his wife Maria Psillakis, a local real estate agent in Brookvale.
Eleni expressed deep gratitude to the lifeguards who cared for her brother in his final moments and praised the ‘beautiful’ memorial they helped create in his honour.
‘To lifeguard Dave and all his fellow lifeguards, please look after yourselves as you continue to look after others,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you for your care of my brother Mercury. You don’t know how much each act of kindness helps.’
The family of Mercury Psillakis (pictured with his wife Maria), the beloved surfer fatally attacked by a shark have spoken out in the wake of the tragedy
Mercury Psillakis, 57, (pictured) died while surfing with mates off Sydney’s Long Reef Beach near Dee Why on the northern beaches on Saturday morning
Mercury’s wife Maria Psillakis is assisted by friends at the scene of the fatal mauling
His close friend and former pro-surfer Toby Martin said the 57-year-old was heroic in his final moments and tried to keep the pack of surfers he was out with safe after they spotted the shark.
‘He was at the back of the pack still trying to get everyone together when the shark just lined him up,’ he said.
‘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.’
Two lifeguards were able to carry his torso to shore but there was no attempt to resuscitate Mercury as he suffered gruesome fatal injuries in the attack.
Mr Martin said the ocean represented pleasure and pain for surfers and there would be trepidation when they returned to the water.
‘We’re going to get back out there as soon as we can for ourselves, for our community,’ he said.
‘The ocean is a greater elixir of life. We wash off our daily stresses and it’s a great mental health thing to do.
Mr Psillakis was a well-known personality on the northern beaches surf scene along with his wife Maria Psillakis, a local real estate agent in Brookvale (pictured together)
Two lifeguards were able to carry his torso to shore but there was no attempt to resuscitate Mercury as he suffered gruesome fatal injuries in the attack
Long-time local Peter McEntyre recalled seeing the Psillakis twins as teenagers, racing past his house on BMX bikes with surfboards tucked under their arms.
‘They were so happy trying to get to the surf as fast as possible,’ he said.
‘Of all the millions of people that go surfing how unlucky to have become a victim.
‘I can’t imagine the pain the sisters and family are experiencing.’
Two days after the fatal attack the beach, usually buzzing with surfers and swimmers, now feels eerily quiet.
While the official shark warning signs have been removed, the emotional impact of the incident lingers.
Mercury’s death has sent ripples through the tight-knit surf community, prompting discussion about ocean safety, grief, and the bond between surfers and the sea.
His friends have described the passionate surfer as everyone’s best mate, a man whose kindness, loyalty and infectious spirit touched generations at Long Reef, a surf break he and his twin called home since boyhood.
Police are still working with the Department of Primary Industries to identify the species of the shark involved in the attack, but it’s believed to be a great white shark (pictured, detectives on the closed beach on Saturday)
Nearby Manly beach was cleared by lifeguards who pulled swimmers onto their rescue jetskis after a fresh alarm was sparked by the sighting of a great white shark on Monday (pictured, tributes left at Dee Why beach)
Matt Grainger said he loved nothing more than surfing with Merc and Mike affectionately known to many as Heckle and Jeckle.
‘Hooting encouragement, laughing, hugging, and pushing each other,’ he said.
‘We had countless surf trips together with Tim, Arnie, and all the Longy crew since we were 12 years old.
‘Our last surf together we hugged in the water, and later we frothed over the plants he was so proud to be looking after at home.
In an emotional statement, the Long Reef Boardriders Association said no family had deeper roots to the area than Mercury and his family.
‘Dad Nikita, the fisherman, mum Elefteria the strength,’ the group said.
‘Merc and Mike have spent more time in the ocean at Longy than any people on the planet. That’s a fact.’
Mercury was celebrated not only for his competitive prowess as an outstanding junior surfer and former club champion, but for his warmth and generosity in and out of the water.
The Northern Beaches community is reeling following the popular surfer’s death (pictured)
Horrified witnesses described the 57-year-old father being bitten in half by the suspected great white shark (pictured, mourners at the scene)
‘Mercury was loved by everyone. His encouragement of young groms, his delight of a friends’ marriage, birth, and celebrating all the good things in life and his kind words in moments of need will always be remembered.
‘Merc travelled the world chasing his love of waves to Nias, Ments, Indo, France, Spain, Portugal, Samoa to name a few but no love was greater than his love for his Wife Maria, daughter Freedom, mum Elefteria, dad Nikita, sisters Eleni and Chrisanthy and twin brother Mike.
‘This is something that will have such a massive effect on our community and the wider community.’
A heartfelt tribute has been created at the very spot where he lost his life, with mourners leaving flowers and heartfelt messages.
‘Keep surfing those waves up in heaven,’ said close friend Dave.
‘You will be missed so much and your legacy lives on.’
Counselling is available at the Dee Why Surf Club.
His brother Mike, who runs Psillakis Surfboards in Brookvale, and Mercury’s wife Maria were seen grieving on the sand after the fatal attack.
Mercury Psillakis (right) had organised a paddle out for a friend who passed away in May
It is understood authorities are searching a 5km stretch of coastline for the shark (pictured, a sign on Dee Why Beach on Saturday)
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
Department records show a tagged great white was detected at a listening station at North Narrabeen just hours before Mercury was attacked.
Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination.
Following the attack helicopters, lifeguards and police boats searched the ocean for the shark for hours.
Sydney’s last fatal shark attack occurred in 2022, when a diver was killed at Little Bay.
Dee Why Beach has shark nets in place, but Long Reef, just a few hundred metres north does not.
