An Australian surfer tragically passed away on Saturday after being attacked by a shark at Sydney’s Long Reef Beach, according to police reports.
New South Wales Police Superintendent John Duncan identified the individual as a 57-year-old father and “experienced surfer” who sustained the loss of multiple limbs.
A witness at the scene recounted to Sky News Australia hearing someone scream, “‘I don’t want to get bitten, I don’t want to get bitten, don’t bite me,’ and I saw the dorsal fin of the shark come up, and it was huge.”
Police indicated they were dispatched to the beach around 10 a.m. local time on Saturday following reports of a man who “had suffered critical injuries.”
“He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, [he] died at the scene,” stated the New South Wales Police Force in an official release.
Police further stated that “Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts… to determine the species of shark involved.” They added that “Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination.”
Sky News noted that the last fatal shark attack in the city occurred in February 2022, marking the first such incident since 1963.
Duncan informed reporters on Saturday that the event was a “terrible tragedy.”
Sky News quoted him saying, “The gentleman had gone out about 9:30 this morning with some of his friends, about five or six of his mates,” adding, “He’s an experienced surfer that we understand.”
Duncan reportedly elaborated, “Unfortunately, it would appear that a large, what we believe to be a shark, [was involved]. And as a result of that, he lost a number of limbs.” He added, “His colleagues managed to make it back to the beach safely, and a short time later, his body was found floating in the surf, and a couple of other people went out and recovered it.”
Sky News reported that Duncan confirmed the victim is survived by a wife and young daughter.