A 57-year-old man has died following a shark attack while surfing at Long Reef Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches. The incident occurred just after 9 a.m. on Saturday when the man was in the water with friends. Police reported that he was attacked by a large shark approximately 100 meters from the shore.

His friends managed to return to the beach safely, but the man's body was later discovered floating in the surf, missing several limbs. Inspector Stuart Thomson stated that the man had been in the water for about 30 minutes before the attack. "There was a couple of other surfers who managed to see him in the surf and managed to get him back out," he said. "But unfortunately by that time, we understand he'd lost probably a lot of blood and, yeah, resuscitation was not possible."

Thomson characterized the attack as a rare and tragic event. "We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter, and obviously tomorrow being Father's Day it's particularly very tragic," he added.

Authorities confirmed that the man was pulled from the water unresponsive, along with large pieces of a surfboard. In response to the incident, the Northern Beaches Police Area Command has closed Long Reef Beach and is working with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to identify the species of shark involved. Two sections of the surfboard have been recovered for examination.

Dee Why Beach will remain closed for 48 to 72 hours, while other beaches between Manly and Narrabeen will be closed for 24 hours. Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) reported that the man was surfing north of the lifeguard tower, away from the patrolled area. SLSNSW CEO Steve Pearce expressed condolences to the man's family, stating, "Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy. Volunteers will continue to assist Council and authorities to protect the public from further danger in any way we can."

Drones are currently scanning the area for any further shark activity. The Northern Beaches Council has also paid tribute to the victim's family and thanked first responders for their prompt actions. "There has been a tragic loss of life on one of our beaches, and our deepest condolences today are with the man's family and friends," the council stated.

Witnesses reported a sense of urgency following the attack. One local, Bill Sukala, was on his way to Shelly Beach when he heard a warning announcement about the shark attack. "The next thing the helicopters were setting up and all hell was breaking loose," he said. Sukala, who has surfed in many locations known for shark activity, noted that the local community would likely feel unsettled for some time. "I think it's going to send shock waves through the community," he said. "It's a risk that every surfer accepts. We don't like it, we know that statistically it's an unlikely probability, but yeah, we take it in stride and hope it's not us."