“Surfer Fatally Attacked by Great White Near Sydney”

Australian scientists reported yesterday that a great white shark, estimated to be 3.6 meters (12 feet) in length, is believed to have fatally attacked a 57-year-old surfer near Sydney over the weekend. Following the incident, authorities have heightened monitoring efforts for these predators. The victim, identified as Mercury Psillakis by Australian media, was a seasoned surfer who was tragically attacked by a shark on Saturday at a popular beach in northern Sydney, resulting in multiple beach closures. The man, survived by his wife and young daughter, suffered severe injuries, including the loss of limbs, and his surfboard was shattered. This marks the first deadly shark attack in Sydney since 2022, when Simon Nellist, a diving instructor, was fatally attacked off Little Bay.