Narrabeen to Manly Beaches Closed After Fatal Shark Incident at Dee Why
Saturday September 6 2025: SLS NSW Notice
A surfer has died after he was bitten by a shark at Dee Why beach this morning.
The man was surfing with a group to the north of the lifeguard tower towards Long Reef, away from the patrolled area.
The council and Surf Life Saving have closed beaches from North Narrabeen to Manly. Council Lifeguards are present to keep people from entering the water.
Surf Life Saving NSW drone operators are on scene, scanning the water for any signs of further shark activity.
Rescue Water Craft (jetski) training underway at Dee Why was cancelled and the craft diverted to assist in clearing people from the water.
SLSNSW is working closely with NSW DPI in response to this incident.
Nearby clubs including Long Reef SLSC have cancelled all water activity and training this weekend.
“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy. Volunteers will continue to assist Council and authorities to protect the public from further danger in any way we can,” said Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce.
“For now, please remain clear of the water at beaches in the vicinity and follow the direction of lifeguards and lifesavers.”
NSW Police said the 57-year-old man had been surfing with a group of friends at Long Reef Beach just after 9am on Saturday when he was attacked by a large shark.
Police said the man was pulled from the water unresponsive along with large sections of a surfboard. The gentleman was an experienced surfer and father.
Inspector Stuart Thomson said the man had been in the water for 30 minutes and was only 100 metres from the beach.
"There was a couple of other surfers [who] managed to see him in the surf and managed to get him get him back out," he said.
"But unfortunately by that time, we understand he'd lost probably a lot of blood and resuscitation was not possible."
Inspector Thomson described the attack as a "freak" incident of a kind that happens "very, very rarely".
"We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter and obviously tomorrow being Father's Day it's particularly very tragic," he said.
"Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved," police said in an earlier statement.
''Emergency services were called to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10am (Saturday 6 September 2025), responding to reports a man had suffered critical injuries.'' Police said in an issued statement
''He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, died at the scene.
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
Beaches between Manly to Narrabeen have been closed pending further advice.'' NBPAC said in an issued statement
The council paid tribute to the family in a statement, and thanked all the first responders at the scene for their "swift and professional response", including members of the public who assisted.
"There has been a tragic loss of life on one of our beaches, and our deepest condolences today are with the man's family and friends," it said in a statement.
"Beach goers are advised to check the [council] website for ongoing closures in the coming days."
Dee Why Beach will remain closed for the next 48 to 72 hours, and beaches between Manly and Narrabeen will stay closed for 24 hours.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said biologists would assess photographs from the incident to determine the species of shark involved.
"The NSW Government’s thoughts are with the bite victim, their family and the first responders," a DPIRD spokesperson said in a statement.
"Three SMART drumlines were set by the DPIRD contractor off Dee Why this morning as is normal practice.
"An additional two SMART drumlines have now been set between Long Reef and Dee Why. There is a shark net in place off Dee Why beach."
The tragedy has occurred just weeks after it was announced the council would be among three trialling removing shark nets. The state government has asked Waverley, Northern Beaches and Central Coast councils to select one beach to trial the removal of the nets.
A NSW government spokesperson said safety is the “number one priority”.
“Three local councils, Central Coast, Waverley and Northern Beaches, who have indicated they did not want nets on their beaches, have been invited to be part of a trial where one beach in their LGA will not be netted,” the spokesperson said.
The Department of Primary Industries is expected to select which beaches will be involved in the trial.
The Dee Why shark net was installed this past week.
The first day of Spring 2025 included the installation of shark nets along the NSW coast. The 51 nets deployed between Newcastle and Wollongong by the NSW government's Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are part of the state's annual shark management program.
Sharks have been present off our beaches and in the Pittwater estuary out-of-season this year, with the increase and extended times of warm waters, when they would usually head north at this time of year, being attributed for the change.
A period of exceptionally warm ocean temperatures began in September 2024, with temperatures rising to 2.5°C above normal.
In June 2025 Pittwater Online reported Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the southern hemisphere, including areas around Australia, were expected to be warmer than average during the Winter of 2025. The Bureau of Meteorology indicated that day and night temperatures are likely to be above average across Australia for this time of the year.
In March 2025 Pittwater Online reported Bull sharks, which usually leave our waters once they drop below 19C and head north, are staying in the warm waters off our coasts.
The algal bloom in South Australia, identified as Karenia mikimotoi, was first observed in mid-March 2025 by surfers and beachgoers on the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Another recurring change witnessed back-to-back during the past several years has been the deaths of thousands birds off our coasts through starvation - birds that rely on zooplankton for food. Zooplankton can survive in warm waters, however, they thrive in cooler waters. Marine heatwaves have been causing shifts in where and when zooplankton occur, and how large they grow.
See: Shearwaters washing up on local beaches for third year in a row: Mass mortalities of Starving Birds attributed to Australia's Lose-Lose Policy on the Australian Environment - October 2024
On Friday September 5 DPI Fisheries advised tagged White Shark #2734 had been detected by the North Narrabeen receiver at 08:31:51 PM (AEST). This shark was last detected at 09:42:13 AM (AEST) on 04-September-2025 by Stanwell Park receiver. Tagged and released 31-May-2025(AEST) at Pambula Beach, Pambula.
The species of shark involved at Dee Why has yet to be formally identified.
Rod McGibbon Branch President of the Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches Branch said the surfing community at Dee Why will be "devastated".
"Obviously the surfing community, those that use the beach on a regular basis are all very close," he said.
"Many people have been using it for many decades and they look out for one another and obviously they'll all be very devastated.
On some days news service receives Notices that must go out immediately – and be spread as far and wide as quickly as possible - even if we've immediately gone into shock. Saturday was one such day with a Notice going out to clear the water and stay out of the water – with others advising those not near beaches that had been closed to stay out of the water anyway, at least for a few days, and until the authorities had done their work.
The ghoulish rush to publish by some ‘media’, scouring and scraping social platforms to steal photos of loved ones to run, sharing inappropriate details that only compound the distress of family members, proves nightmare events bring out the worst in some and the best in others.
If our community wasn’t so distressed for Mercury Psillakis' lovely wife and darling daughter, his brother and family members, the Longy Boardriders family, his club, and the Dee Why Surfing Fraternity, we’d be sending bolts of lightning into hearts, hoping that may wake them up, help have a little regard for this gentleman’s family and observe the privacy of others, especially during such tragedies.
We are heartbroken. Have some respect.
Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps, in speaking up for the family that is this community, stated:
‘’On behalf of our community I want to offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the surfer who tragically died this morning.
I’ve no doubt our community will wrap around you at this time.
I’d also like to acknowledge the bravery of the fellow surfers, lifeguards and emergency services for responding in such challenging circumstances.
This tragedy is felt within our community.
Please reach out for support if you need to – and call Lifeline on 13 11 14.’’
Wakehurst MP and former Mayor of Warringah Michael Regan said:
''My deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones at this heartbreaking time.
I want to acknowledge the first responders, surf lifesavers, NSW Police and paramedics who acted swiftly under extremely difficult circumstances.
We are a close community. Please look after one another, be mindful of the impact on witnesses and responders, and seek support if you need it.''
Update - Sunday 6pm September 7:
The trial to remove shark nets from three NSW beaches in Waverly, Central Coast and the Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula has been paused after the fatal shark attack on Saturday. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the decision was "the right thing to do" and would be revisited after an investigation into the "shocking event".
"The truth of the matter is we haven't settled on the location or technology that would replace nets," Mr Minns said.
"So 51 nets rolled out on the 1st of September."
"We believe the right thing to do is to wait for the investigation to come back about how this happened, what happened and the circumstances surrounding it.
"We want to make sure that we have the information in front of us before we take that kind of decision, and I'm not going to make any decision before that report is back to the NSW government."
The government confirmed that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is collating a report on the incident.