A British swimmer killed by a 15ft great white shark in Sydney’s first fatal attack for 59 years has been pictured.
Simon Nellist, 35, was an experienced ocean swimmer who was training for a charity swim when he was attacked metres from Buchan Point, near Little Bay.
The expat’s remains were found in the water yesterday afternoon after witnesses watched in horror as the shark attacked.
Simon’s friends revealed he was a dive instructor who was due to be married.
‘Everything that is connected to Simon is connected to the ocean,’ friend Della Ross told 7News.
‘The news hit us like a truck because he was one of the people who make this earth lighter.’
The Brit spent much of his time in the sea and had been training for the Malabar ocean swim this weekend, which has now been cancelled.
Local fishermen were heard shouting ‘someone just got eaten by a shark’ in disturbing footage showing the great white thrash about as the water turned red.
Experts believe the shark probably mistook Simon, who was reportedly wearing a wetsuit, for a seal.
Australian authorities are now using helicopters and drones to search for the killer shark.
A coastguard team on jet skis is also patrolling a 25km (15.5 mile) stretch of water from Bondi to Cronulla as they try to prevent a further attack.
Swimmers have been banned from the water as officials closed most of the city’s beaches.
This was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963.
The New South Wales state government has spent millions on technology to reduce shark attacks along its coast.
Nets have been deployed at 51 beaches, as well as drones and shark listening stations that can track great white sharks by satellite, and send an alert when one is sighted.
