A surfer has died after being mauled by a shark in front of terrified beachgoers on Sydney‘s Northern Beaches.
The man, believed to be aged in his 50s, was brought to shore by fellow surfers at Dee Why beach just after 10am on Saturday.
‘He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, died at the scene,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
The man is understood to be a local who is well-known in surfing circles in the area.
A shark alarm was quickly triggered at the beach, which has a shark net installed.
A witness told Daily Mail they saw a group of people ‘crying in a circle’ just metres from the water.
Surf Lifesavers advised the beach would be closed until further notice.
‘Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts… to determine the species of shark involved,’ police said.
‘Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination.
A man has died after being mauled by a shark at Dee Why beach (the scene is pictured)
Initial reports suggest the surfer is aged in his 50s (pictured, police at Dee Why Beach)
It’s understood the man died from lower body injuries after being brought to shore
‘Beaches between Manly and Narrabeen have been closed pending further advice.
‘The identity of the man is to be confirmed.’
It’s understood authorities are searching for the shark as far south as North Steyne and that beaches will be closed for at least 24 hours.
A marine safety vessel could be seen scouring the waters where, normally, dozens of surfers wait for waves at the popular break.
A witness who lives in nearby Long Reef told Daily Mail she saw ‘at least four helicopters flying overhead in just 10 minutes’.
A witness told the Daily Telegraph several surfers helped bring the man to shore.
‘Four or five surfers pulled him out of the water and it looked like a significant part of his lower half had been attacked,’ he said.
‘They didn’t work on him when they got to the beach.’
The last fatal shark attack in Sydney was in 2022, when a local diver was killed by a great white shark in Little Bay.
Shark nets at Dee Why went up in the beginning of September, but Long Reef – to its north – is not netted.
