A surfer has been killed by a shark at a popular Sydney beach this morning.

Police said the man suffered critical injuries after being bitten by a "large shark" at Long Reef Beach in Dee Why on the Northern Beaches.

He was retrieved from the surf and brought to shore, but he died at the scene.

Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and will be examined.

Beaches have been closed on the Northern Beaches between Manly and Narrabeen.

Police will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.

The surfer's identity is yet to be confirmed.

Shark attacks in Sydney are incredibly rare, with only one recorded fatality in the past 60 years.

Diving instructor Simon Nellist was killed while swimming off Little Bay Beach i

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