Surfer Killed in Rare Fatal Shark Attack Off Sydney’s Long Reef Beach

A 57-year-old surfer has died after being mauled by a suspected large shark at a popular Sydney beach on Saturday, in what authorities described as a rare but tragic fatal attack.

The man, an experienced surfer with a wife and young daughter, was in the waters between Long Reef and Dee Why beaches when the shark struck, New South Wales Police confirmed.

Superintendent John Duncan said the victim lost “a number of limbs” during the attack. “I do understand that both him and his board disappeared underwater. The body was found floating in the surf,” he told reporters.

Fellow surfers pulled the man ashore, but despite efforts to resuscitate him, he had already lost too much blood.

Authorities believe a “large shark” was responsible and are examining the surfboard and body to help identify the species involved. While Australia is home to more than 100 shark species, most are not aggressive, though great whites, tiger sharks, and bull sharks are responsible for the majority of serious attacks.

Beaches in northern Sydney were immediately closed for at least 24 hours, with drones and lifesavers patrolling the waters.

Fatal shark incidents remain rare in Australia. In 2024, there were just seven fatal shark attacks worldwide, including four unprovoked cases, according to the International Shark Attack File.

This marks Sydney’s first fatal shark attack since 2022, when a British diving instructor was killed off Little Bay. Before that, the last deadly attack in the city occurred in 1963.

Australia’s most recent fatal shark attack prior to Saturday was in March 2025, when a surfer was taken at Wharton Beach in Western Australia.

Since 1791, there have been more than 1,280 recorded shark incidents in Australia, over 250 of them fatal.