Horror as shark attack victim named as BRITISH expat killed training for charity swim
THE VICTIM of a lethal shark attack off the coast of Sydney on Wednesday has been named as a British swimmer.
Great White Shark attacks and kills swimmer at Sydney Beach
Simon Nellist, 35, had been training for a charity ocean swim when he was killed at 4.30 pm AEDT (5.30 am GMT) at Buchan Point, near Sydney's Little Bay. Emergency services did not name the victim when the tragic incident was reported on Wednesday.
Efforts to save Mr Nellist were in vain, and he died as a result of "catastrophic injuries".
A spokesperson for the New South Wales ambulance service said: “Unfortunately this person had suffered catastrophic injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do.”
A police statement added authorities had “located human remains in the water”.
This is the first death from an unprovoked shark attack in the city for nearly 60 years.
Kris Linto, a fisherman who witnessed the attack, told 9News he estimated the shark to be around 4.5 metres long.
He said: "The shark came and attacked them vertically.
"We heard a yell and then turned around.
“[The splash] looked like a car just landed in the water."
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Another witness said he saw a man in a wetsuit being dragged underneath the water's surface by a "large" shark.
The man told ABC News: "When he went down there were so many splashes.
"It was terrible. I am shaking.
"I keep vomiting. It's very, very upsetting.”
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He added: "He just went down for a swim, enjoying the day, but that shark took his life."
Another eyewitness told Guardian Australia the swimmer was “mauled” in the attack, and that the surrounding water had been dyed red with blood.
Local resident James, 27, added he arrived at the beach nearly an hour after police were alerted to the attack.
He said at 5.30 pm AEDT, police helicopters were scouring the area, but people were still swimming in the water.
He said: “Everyone was looking around, trying to work out what was going on.”
He added: “There were still people in the water. I’m never getting in again– no way.”
Authorities closed the Little Bay beach and neighbouring shorelines on Thursday.
Police said they were collaborating with the Department of Primary Industries for the area to investigate Mr Nellist's death.