Govind Tekale
A father and experienced surfer died after being attacked by a large shark at Long Reef Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches on Saturday morning, just one day before Father’s Day. The man in his 50s was surfing with friends when the shark struck around 10 a.m., causing severe injuries to his lower body and cutting his surfboard in two. Fellow surfers brought him to shore, but he died at the scene despite emergency efforts.
“It’s a terrible, terrible thing. It’s one of those freak accidents that happens very, very rarely,” said Inspector Stuart Thomson from Northern Beaches Police. The victim leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Emergency services responded quickly after the shark alarm sounded, with four ambulances, the Westpac rescue helicopter, and Surf Life Saving NSW arriving within minutes. Authorities have closed beaches from Manly to Narrabeen, with Dee Why and Long Reef expected to remain closed for up to 72 hours.
Police recovered two sections of the victim’s surfboard for forensic examination. The NSW Department of Primary Industries will analyze bite patterns to determine the shark species involved.
Witnesses described the swift and tragic scene. Sophie Lumsden, who was at Dee Why Beach, told The Daily Telegraph: “I was sitting at the beach having a coffee and the shark alarm went off. Two minutes later, four ambulances turned up.”
Another surfer reported seeing “four or five surfers” pull the victim from the water with “significant” injuries to his lower body.
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The attack occurred as a junior surfing competition was underway nearby, adding to the concern among the tight-knit surfing community. Local surfer Bill Sukala, who narrowly avoided being in the water himself, reflected on the risks that surfers accept.
“I think it’s going to send shock waves through the community. Everyone is going to be nervous for a while,” Sukala said. “At some point we’re going to paddle back out. That’s the risk that we accept.”
This marks the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 2022, when Simon Nellist was killed at Little Bay.
The tragedy comes amid ongoing discussions about shark safety measures. Shark nets were installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong just last Monday as part of seasonal protection. While Dee Why Beach has nets, Long Reef Beach where the attack occurred does not.
The NSW government recently announced plans to trial removing shark nets at select beaches, with Northern Beaches Council among those invited to participate.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce expressed condolences to the victim’s family and urged the public to avoid the water at nearby beaches. Drone operators continue to scan the area for further shark activity, while all water activities at nearby surf clubs have been cancelled for the weekend.
