Australian surfing legend and shark attack survivor Mick Fanning has told how he got the ‘flutters’ when he learned the heartbreaking news a swimmer had been killed by a great white in Sydney.
British expat Simon Nellist, 35, was mauled by a 4.5m shark about 100m from the main beach at Little Bay in Sydney’s east on Wednesday afternoon while training for an ocean swim event.
His death brought back memories for the three-time world champion, who survived being attacked by a shark at a surfing event in South Africa in 2015.
Fanning said his thoughts went out to Mr Nellist’s loved ones and that he had tried not to look at the confronting footage of Wednesday’s attack taken from the shore.
British expat Simon Nellist, 35, pictured with his fiancée Jessie Ho. He was killed by a great white shark at Little Bay in Sydney’s east on Wednesday afternoon as he trained for an ocean swim event
‘I’m just really sad for the family and the friends of the man. I tried not to watch too much, to be honest,’ he told the Today show.
Fanning said while he worked hard to move on from his own experience, the events in Sydney still hit close to home.
‘I did a lot of work when it all first happened, so I’m personally fine, but you definitely get things running through your mind,’ he said.
Fanning fought off a three-metre great white at the J-Bay Open World Surf League event in Jeffreys Bay, near Port Elizabeth in the country’s south.
He said at the time he escaped by punching the shark – which tore off his leg rope.
Mr Nellist meanwhile was set upon next to a rock shelf as nearby fishermen watched on from the shore.
The UK Armed Forces veteran, who grew up in Cornwall, in the country’s south-west, was due to marry his fiancée Jessie Ho this summer.
His aunt Jacqui Seager, 62, said: ‘I don’t think Simon would want the shark to be killed. He loved nature.
Mick Fanning pictured right with his fiancée Breeana Randall. He had to fight off a great white shark in South Africa in 2015
Pictured: Simon Nellist. He was set upon next to a rock shelf as nearby fishermen watched on from the shore
British diving instructor Simon Nellist, 35, died just 500ft from horrified beachgoers near Sydney
‘He swam with sharks before. This isn’t the first time he’s gone out and seen them but he would still go out swimming. That’s brave.
‘I don’t think he ever thought they would hurt him. Sadly, this time it managed to get to him.
‘It’s absolutely horrendous. We are all in shock.’
Photographer Mrs Seager, of Maidstone, Kent, added: ‘He swam most days. This is just a freak accident. It shows you can’t take life for granted.’
His death at Buchan Point on Wednesday forced authorities to close most beaches.
Special ‘drum lines’ – aquatic traps using baited hooks to lure and capture large sharks – were set up in the water.
However, they are controversial because sharks have died in them. They also often catch other wildlife.
Mr Nellist had hit out over their use saying they ‘protect no one’ and ‘need to go’.
Mr Nellist, who grew up in Penzance, Cornwall, served two tours in Afghanistan before settling in Australia and was due to marry his fiancée Jessie Ho this summer
His death comes weeks before ‘smart’ drum lines were reportedly due to be installed which could have prevented the tragedy.
Mother-of-three Mrs Seager said: ‘He told his mum he was going to travel to Australia and that was that. He loved it so much that he stayed.
‘He met his girlfriend Jessie out there. They’re around the same age and instantly hit it off. They’ve been together for years.
‘She is totally in bits, as are his parents. I spoke to them last night and they are beyond belief.
‘They will never get through this – ever – as this is something you keep with you for life. I just feel so sorry for them.
Mr Nellist was the first person to be killed by a shark in the Sydney area since the 1960s
‘They are planning to get out there as soon as they can but need to sort visas out.
‘Everyone was going to fly out there to see him get married in June or July but sadly it is now in much sadder circumstances.’
Mrs Seager stressed: ‘Simon always loved the sea. He was always very close to it. He loved wildlife and the world.
‘He had a real love affair with nature. He was a very kind and considerate man who just loved life. He was a strong guy and did two tours of Afghanistan.
‘His mum said how could he return from the frontline unscathed to then go to Australia, go out for a swim and get killed.’
Mr Nellist served with the UK’s 34 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. His shocked parents Mike and Rosemary, of Helston, Cornwall, declined to comment yesterday.
Experts believe the shark which killed Mr Nellist on his daily swim was at least 10ft long and might have mistaken his wetsuit for a seal.
His aunt Jacqui Seager stressed: ‘Simon always loved the sea. He was always very close to it. He loved wildlife and the world. He had a real love affair with nature’
He had been training for a swimming event on Sunday but it has now been cancelled. Dr Chris Pepin-Neff, of Sydney University, said such shark attacks were incredibly rare, with just ten or 12 of its kind in 30 years around the world.
But he added: ‘It’s not crazy for sharks to bite humans thinking we might be prey.’
Mr Nellist’s friend Della Ross described the diving community’s devastation, saying: ‘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.’
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