The twin of a surfer killed by a shark at a Sydney beach at the weekend has paid an emotional tribute to the brother he described as “my life, my right-hand man”.
A shark took Mercury Psillakis, 57, at Long Reef Beach in Dee Why on Saturday, sparking the temporary closure of several beaches and the halting of a limited shark-net removal trial in the city.
Mike Psillakis said it was the “hardest moment of my life”.
The Psillakis Surfboards shaper said he had lost the yin to his yang, a man he described as “my mirror, my blood, my DNA” and with whom he said he shared the same soul.
“Mercury was my life, my right-hand man,” Mick said in an emoji-scattered Instagram post this afternoon.
“Words cannot describe the bond we had together growing up. We had our own language and shared the same dreams, literally.
“The experiences we had together were truly amazing.”
Mick said Mercury would be the “life at every party” and called on loved ones to follow his brother’s message to “live life with pure passion”.
“Express ALL emotions, whether they are happy, sad, angry or mad,” Mick said.
“Tell your loved ones that you love them. Hold them tight.
“Get rid of the filter that hides who you really are.
“He was passionate about being REAL.”
Mercury was survived by his wife, Maria and daughter, Freedom.
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Shark believed to be great white
Experts believe they know what type of shark took his life.
“NSW government shark biologists have assessed photographs of the victim’s surfboard and determined a white shark approximately 3.4-3.6 metres in length was likely responsible,” a NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) statement said today.
“Based on information from emergency services, it is understood the incident occurred approximately 300 metres north of the Surf Life Saving club.”
Fellow surfers said Mercury spotted the predator and began warning those around him, but was unable to save himself.
Manly Beach and Freshwater Beach were closed this morning after reported shark activity just days after the fatal attack nearby.
The shark net at Dee Why is about 500 metres from the shore, with the nets being 150 metres long and six metres deep.
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New measures are being taken in response to the fatal attack.
”An extra two SMART drumlines have been deployed by the DPIRD contractor between Dee Why and Long Reef on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, in addition to the three SMART drumlines deployed daily off Dee Why year-round,” the DPIRD statement said.
“Surf Life Saving NSW have also deployed drones in the area again today, plus helicopter surveillance.”
The Northern Beaches Council also announced the closure of the two popular beaches, saying the NSW Government Shark Smart app had reported a sighting of a “tagged shark in the vicinity” of the beaches.
This marks the fourth beach to be closed in the area, with Dee Why Beach and Long Reef Beach also remaining closed after Saturday’s attack.
In addition to the beach closures, a planned trial to take down shark nets from Sydney beaches was paused yesterday.
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