By ANNA USHER

A run of shark incidents in NSW – four in the space of 48 hours – is a stark reminder that danger can surface quickly in familiar waters.

Sydney’s most recent fatal shark attack was in September 2025, when 57-year-old Mercury Psillakis, 57, was killed at Long Reef Beach in Dee Why.

Before that, diving instructor Simon Nellist, 35, was fatally mauled while swimming near Little Bay in February 2022, an incident that was the city’s first deadly attack since 1963.

But the lower north shore has its own grim archive.

In Mosman, the first recorded shark death goes back to 1907, when local man Henry Jones was ambushed while swimming near the shore at Sugar Loaf Bay.

On New Year’s Day 1915, Warren Tooze (17), a resident of Magic Grove, was swimming at Sirius Cove when he suddenly screamed and disappeared. His companion, Herbert Park was also bitten as he tried to help his friend, who later died in Sydney Hospital.

Four years later, on 9 January 1919, 13-year-old Richard Simpson was killed – also at Sirius Cove – while fetching drift wood during the school holidays.

Tragedy struck again on 17 January, 1955 when 13-year-old John Willis of Burran Ave went down to Balmoral for an afternoon swim. While checking his lobster pot, only a few metres from Wyargine Point, the teen was attacked in front of a packed beach.

Within seconds he was dead.

Just two weeks later, on 6 February 1955, Castlecrag man Bruno Rautenberg suffered the same fate when he jumped into Middle Harbour to cool off after cleaning a swimming pool.

In 1960, schoolboy Kenneth Murray – aged 13 – had his right leg bitten off by a bull shark in Middle Harbour. Doctors surgically amputated it but he later died in hospital.

Three years later, in 1963, actress Marcia Hathaway was also fatally mauled by a bull shark in Middle Harbour. The Kirribilli resident had been wading in just 76cm of water.

Balmoral’s shark net, erected in 1935 and stretching between Rocky Point and Edwards Beach, was removed in 2008.

At the time, there were widespread protests against the controversial decision, highlighting heritage significance and the protection it provided for swimmers.

Do you think the shark net should be re-installed? Email your thoughts to [email protected]

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