“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy,” Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said.
“Volunteers will continue to assist [Northern Beaches] Council and authorities to protect the public from further danger in any way we can.
“For now, please remain clear of the water at beaches in the vicinity and follow the direction of lifeguards and lifesavers.”
Shark attacks in Sydney are rare: before today, only one death had been recorded from shark bites across the city’s beaches in 60 years. In 2022, Simon Nellist was killed at Little Bay, in Sydney’s east, by what authorities believed was a great white shark.
The Dee Why death comes despite a mesh net being in place at the beach.
Shark nets were installed at Dee Why and 50 other beaches between Wollongong and Newcastle on Monday, the first day of spring.
This is the second ever death from a shark attack at a netted beach in NSW, the other being at Merewether in Newcastle in 1951.
On average, there are one or two shark attacks each year in NSW, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, and there is statistically no difference in shark fatalities between a netted and unbelted beach.
Shark nets have been used since 1937. In recent years, they have been supplemented by modern technology such as SMART drumlines, shark listening stations and drone surveillance.
The nets are rectangles of mesh net about 150 metres long. They do not provide a barrier, and sharks swim over, under and around them.
They are controversial because they indiscriminately kill dolphins, turtles, critically endangered grey nurse sharks and other sea life.
Before this event, the NSW government was finalising plans with three councils – Waverley, Northern Beaches and Central Coast – to trial one beach in each local government area going net-free this summer. However, nets were still installed in all the usual places this summer.
More to come
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