A British expat who was due to be married has been killed in the first fatal shark attack near Sydney for almost 60 years.
The incident happened about 4.35pm local time on Wednesday at Buchan Point, near Little Bay beach, about 12 miles south of Sydney and near Botany Bay.
People fishing off the coast witnessed the attack on the former RAF man which was caught on video.
The shark was said to have pounced from below and taken Mr Nellist’s body out into the ocean.
Lifeguards used a helicopter, boats and jet skis to search for Mr Nellist.
Police confirmed about 90 minutes later that human remains had been discovered.
Mr Nellist is believed to have grown up in Penzance, Cornwall and was engaged to an Australian woman named as Jessie Ho.
His family in the UK are said to have not seen him for a couple of years.
A close friend of Simon told The Sun: “Him and Jessie were due to get married last year but that got put off because of Covid.
“It’s just horrendous. We spent most of yesterday just hoping and praying it wasn’t him. It’s still incredibly raw.”
“Simon was amazing. That’s all there is to say really. He was just the best.
“He was the nicest, kindest human. It is a huge loss.”
“In the last couple of years we haven’t been able to see him because of the Covid situation.”
The friend revealed Simon “fell in love” with Australia after going travelling around six years ago, following two years in the RAF.
Michael Daley, the local MP, described the incident as “terrible and tragic”.
He told Australia’s 7 News: “This is a man who went for a swim on a beautiful afternoon on one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches, and he is not going home.
“We are very sorry about that and we are all thinking about the man’s family. I think this attack will makeabout going in the water, at least for a while.”
There was speculation that the shark may have thought Mr Nellist was a seal because he was reportedly wearing a black wetsuit.
New South Wales Ambulance inspector Lucky Phrachanh said: “Unfortunately this person had suffered catastrophic injuries and there wasn’t a lot paramedics could do when we arrived.”
Mr Nellist, a dive instructor, was said by friends to have been a keen adventurer who loved the ocean. He opposed the use of shark nets and drum lines, which are used to bait sharks, saying they offered no protection but harmed other marine life.
Della Ross, a friend, told 7 News: “Everything that is connected to Simon is connected to the ocean. The news hit us like a truck because he was one of the people who make this earth lighter. He loved the water, he loved diving.”
Thirteen beaches including Bondi beach were closed by the authorities as emergency services used drones to check for further sightings of the shark.
There have been 10 fatal shark attacks in Australia since the start of 2020. The last one near Sydney, Australia’s largest city, happened in 1963.
Dylan Parker, the local mayor, said: “This has been a complete shock for our community. Our coastline is our backyard and to have a tragic death under such horrifying circumstances is completely shocking.”
The charity ocean swim, in which Mr Nellist had been due to participate on Sunday at a nearby beach, has been cancelled out of respect.
Dominic Perrottet, premier of New South Wales, said the attack was a reminder of the “fragility of life”.
Lawrence Chlebeck, of Humane Society International, said: “It’s very unusual to see a shark attack a human like that. Normally a bite is not fatal. Normally they bite something to figure out what it is. Once they realise it’s a person and not a normal prey item, they take off.
“The vast majority of shark bites are a ‘one and done’ occurrence. This is a very unique, and unfortunately tragic, situation.” Steven Pearce, head of Surf Life Saving NSW rescue team, said: “I don’t think any form of shark netting would have prevented this attack.”
In 2020, Australia reported 22 shark attacks. Globally, the number of shark attacks have increased to about 70 to 80 a year.
