Overview

• Police said a “large shark” bit the experienced surfer about 100 meters from Long Reef Beach; fellow surfers brought him to shore, but he died from massive blood loss.
• Authorities closed beaches from Manly to Narrabeen and deployed helicopters, drones and boats to search and monitor the area.
• Investigators recovered the surfboard, broken in two, and the body for forensic examination to help identify the shark species.
• Officials note such attacks are rare, with this the first fatal incident off Sydney since 2022 and a seldom occurrence nationally.
• Researchers report some species spend longer near Sydney as waters warm, with a study finding roughly 15 additional summer days close to the coast compared with 15 years ago.