A surfer has died after a suspected shark attack at Long Reef Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The incident happened on Saturday morning, September 6, 2025.
Police said emergency services were called shortly after 10:00am local time (00:00 GMT). Reports indicated that a man had suffered critical injuries while surfing. Despite quick action from fellow surfers and lifeguards, he died at the scene.
The victim, an experienced surfer, had been in the water with friends for about 30 minutes before the attack. Witnesses said he was struck about 100 meters (328 feet) from shore. He suffered catastrophic injuries, including the loss of several limbs. Other surfers bravely brought him back to the beach before paramedics arrived.
Two broken pieces of his surfboard have been recovered and will be examined by experts to help identify the shark species. Beaches in the Northern Beaches area are now closed and will remain shut for at least 24 to 72 hours.
Rod McGibbon, a Surf Life Saving duty officer, praised the fast response from surfers nearby. However, he said the outcome was devastating. “This is a tragic reminder of the risks, although such shark attacks are very rare,” he noted.
Fatal shark attacks in Sydney are uncommon. The last deadly incident was in 2022, when British diving instructor Simon Nellist was killed by a great white shark at Little Bay. Before that, Sydney had not recorded a fatal attack since 1963.
Across Australia, about 20 shark attacks are reported each year, most in New South Wales and Western Australia. However, deaths are rare. Historical records show Australia’s shark attack mortality rate averages less than one person per year.
The tragedy has reignited calls for stronger shark monitoring and safety measures. For now, Sydney’s surfing community is mourning the loss of one of their own, taken during a morning surf at one of the city’s most popular beaches.
