The surfer’s twin said ‘He was my mirror, my blood, my DNA’ and called the loss ‘the hardest moment of my life’ as authorities evacuate the beach after another shark sighting
The grieving twin brother of a surfer whose life was claimed in a fatal shark attack has shared a heartbroken tribute following the tragedy. The beach has now been evacuated after another shark sighting. Australian authorities have deployed drones and a helicopter to monitor the waters.
Mercury Psillakis, 57, was killed by a great white shark while surfing with mates off Sydney’s Long Reef Beach on Saturday morning. It was the first deadly shark attack at the beach in more than 90 years.
“This is the hardest moment of my life… He was my mirror, my blood, my DNA,” his brother, Mike Psillakis, wrote in a post on Instagram on Monday.
“We share the same soul… Words cannot describe the bond we had together growing up. We had our own language and shared the same dreams, literally.”
Mike said his twin’s message was to “live life with pure passion,” adding: “Tell your loved one’s that you love them. Hold them tight.”
Mercury “lost a number of limbs” after being mauled by the beast and was dragged to shore by other surfers shortly after 10am local time. In his final moments, he heroically warned his fellow surfers about the shark, reports Mail Online.
Mercury’s sister, Eleni Psillakis, has praised the “beautiful” memorial the lifeguards made in his honour, and thanked them for caring for him in his final moments.
“To lifeguard Dave and all his fellow lifeguards, please look after yourselves as you continue to look after others,” she wrote.
“Thank you for your care of my brother Mercury. You don’t know how much each act of kindness helps.”
His close friend Toby Martin said: “He was at the back of the pack still trying to get everyone together when the shark just lined him up.
“It came straight from behind and breached and dropped straight on him. It’s the worst-case scenario. They normally come from the side but this one came straight from behind, breached and dropped on him. It was so quick.”
Police Inspector Stuart Thomson said: “His friends managed to make it back to the beach safely, and a short time later his body was found floating in the surf. A couple of other people went out and recovered it. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.
“We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter – with tomorrow being Father’s Day, it’s particularly tragic.”
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