SYDNEY, Australia (TNND) — A man was mauled to death by a shark at a beach in Australia, according to authorities.
Australia media identified the man who was killed as Mercury Psillakis, with reports noting he was married and had a daughter.
The man was killed at a beach near Sydney on Saturday morning, with area beaches closing following the attack.
A witness told Sky News Australia he saw the attack, adding that the shark was one of the biggest he had ever seen.
There was a guy screaming, ‘I don’t want to get bitten, I don’t want to get bitten, don’t bite me,’ and I saw the dorsal fin of the shark come up, and it was huge,” Mark Morgenthal told the media outlet.
Bill Sakula told reporters at the beach he heard about the attack while preparing to leave for a morning surf.
It’s going to send shockwaves through the community,” he said. “Everyone is going to be a little bit nervous for a while.”
The NSW Police Force said emergency crews were called to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10 a.m. local time Saturday, responding to reports that a man had suffered critical injuries.
He was retrieved from the surf and brought to the shore; however, died at the scene,” police said in a news release.
Authorities said two sections of a surfboard have were recovered and “taken for expert examination.”
Police said officers with the Northern Beaches Police Area Command are working with with the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
Surf Life Saving NSW deployed a drone to search for further shark activity.
“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy,” the group’s chief executive, Steve Pearce, said in a statement. He urged people to stay out of the water at the beaches in the vicinity.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.