Mercury Psillakis: Tagged great white shark in waters off Manly Beach days after horror attack

Days after a horrific shark attack that claimed the life of a respected Sydney surfer, Northern Beaches lifeguards have closed Manly Beach to swimmers and surfers after a tagged great white shark entered the waters off the famous stretch of sand.

The Manly Observer is reporting that Surf Lifesaving Northern Beaches, in conjunction with the Northern Beaches Council, has closed Manly and Freshwater beaches as drones and jet skis are deployed to try and track the shark’s whereabouts.

Mercury Psillakis, 57, was killed in a brutal attack by a, yet-to-be-identified shark at a surf break between Dee Why and Long Reef beaches on Saturday, and the local community has been united in grief for the family’s loss, while also apprehensive about a return to the ocean.

Manly beach was unusually quite for surfers and swimmers on Monday morning with only one surfer spotted via the surf watch cameras at around 6.30am.

“Mercury was loved by everyone,” the Longy Boardriders club said in a social media post on Sunday.

“This is something that will have such a massive effect on our community and the wider community.”

Mr Psillakis, who leaves behind his wife and young daughter, is believed to have been attacked by a 3.4 to 3.6m-long great white shark about 100m from the shore.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said it was a tragic incident but added that fatal shark attacks were rare in Sydney, with just two in 60 years.

“We’re all full of sorrow for the family,” he said.

“I understand he was a very experienced surfer and a long-standing member of the surfing community in Dee Why.

“They’d be reeling right now.”

Shark nets were installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong at the start of September, as they are for each summer.

Three councils, including Northern Beaches Council, had been asked to nominate a beach where nets could be removed as part of a trial, but no decision on the locations had been made.

with AAP.