Updated: A man has died on the Northern Beaches after being bitten in the waters at Dee Why by what is believed to have been a large shark.
Manly Observer understands the man is in his fifties. We will not be releasing his name at this time as wider family have not been contacted.
He was surfing near the ‘poles’ at the Dee Why /Long Reef border with five others at the time of the incident. We are told the man detected the fin and warned others to move in close before the attack.
Footage viewed by Manly Observer indicates it was very quick. The injuries were described by police as “catastrophic.”
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to determine the species of shark involved.
Northern Beaches Commander Superintendent John Duncan held a press conference today where he did share that the man leaves behind a wife and daughter.
“Tomorrow being father’s day, it’s particularly tragic,” he said.
“It is one of those freak incidents that happens very, very rarely … a great tragedy.”
“It is one of those freak incidents that happens very, very rarely … a great tragedy.”
Surfers have shared reports of a Great White “the size of a ute”. A tagged great white had been picked up by a receiver at nearby North Narrabeen a few hours earlier.
Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination.
Beaches between Manly to North Narrabeen will be closed for at least 24 hours and Dee Why for up to three days.
We have had it confirmed shark nets are in place at Dee Why.
Additional reporting with Jack Kelly and Harriet Thornton
