Byron Bay shark attack victim Paul Wilcox had joked to his mother about an attack

THE UK-based mother of Byron Bay shark attack victim Paul Wilcox has told of her heartbreak and being “unable to give him my love and help him”.

THE UK-based mother of Byron Bay shark attack victim Paul Wilcox has told of her heartbreak at his grisly death and being “unable to give him my love and help him”.

Marie Wilcox and husband Bryan revealed Mr Wilcox had joked about sharks only a day before he was ­fatally attacked by what is ­believed to be a 3m white pointer at Clarkes Beach on Tuesday morning.

Byron Bay lifeguards patrolling the closed beach today. Picture: Adam Head

Their comments came as Byron Bay locals said the coastal town’s carefree days were “gone”.

Mrs Wilcox, who lives in north Wales, where her son grew up, said she had “adored” him and her only solace in the tragedy was that he would have had a quick death.

“I had a happy, well-­adjusted, lovely son talking to me the day before,” she said.

“Twenty four hours later he is dead and I still cannot take it in. It is so cruel. My only comfort is he died rather than be injured (or) maimed, and have to be nursed.

 

 

 

MANLY COUNCIL PUSHING FOR LESS SHARK NET DAYS DESPITE ATTACK

PAUL AND VICTORIA HAD LOVED EACH OTHER FOR YEARS

DEADLY HUMPBACK HIGHWAY ATTRACTS SHARKS TO SHORE

Paul Wilcox with his wife Victoria / Picture: Supplied

 

“He was on the other side of the world and I couldn’t give him my love and help him and his wife Victoria — she will need lots of comfort.”

Bryan Wilcox said his stepson, an executive coach, had joked about sharks in a phone call home just 24 hours before the attack.

 

 

 

Mr Wilcox’s wife Victoria at the scene.

“This subject came up in a joke when we last spoke to him,” Mr Wilcox said.

“But he said there had been only three shark attacks (in Byron) in the last 12 years.

“It’s just extraordinary.”

As Mr Wilcox’s shattered widow Victoria went to ground — telling police she wanted privacy to grieve after the shock of being on the beach when her husband was attacked — Byron Bay was also grappling to come to grips with the tragedy.

The victim’s body lies on the sand covered by a sheet after the fatal attack. Picture: Brian Pamphilon

 

“I’ve had a chat with a lot of the swimmers over the last 24 hours and we all feel something’s changed irrevocably,” said James Cloake, of the Stingrays, the social swimming club whose members swim in the bay daily.

“It feels like the innocent days are gone.”

 

With the beach still closed 24 hours after Mr Wilcox died, Mr Cloake said: “We wouldn’t be swimming anyway out of respect to the man who died.”

Mr Wilcox, 50, was not a Stingrays member.

Paul Wilcox with his wife Victoria / Picture: Supplied

The Wilcoxes are believed to have lived at Rosebank in the Byron Bay hinterland.

Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman Matt Miller said Byron beaches would stay closed until noon today.

He said the shark had not been seen in the bay but jetski and jet boats were patrolling “as a precaution’’.

 

 

Ashlee Mullany

MANLY Council will continue its push for a reduction in the number of shark netting days at its popular beach despite the fatal shark attack on swimmer Paul Wilcox in the state’s north yesterday.

Councillor Cathy Griffin is leading the push for a review of NSW’s shark meshing program, saying the nets “indiscriminately kill” marine life.

The council has written to Premier Mike Baird and two government ministers requesting a review into reducing the number of “meshing days” on NSW beaches during summer.

Currently, 51 beaches have shark meshing in place from the beginning of September to the end of April.

The council wants to reduce the number of days the nets are in place by 60.

“It’s indiscriminate killing of marine life,” Ms Griffin said.

Ms Griffin is calling on 15 coastal councils in the metropolitan area — from Sutherland to Hornsby — to join the shark net campaign.

She said she was still in favour of a reduction of shark meshing days depite yesterday’s fatal attack at Byron Bay.

“Byron Bay is not a netted beach. The circumstances are completely different,” Ms Griffin said.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said a review of shark meshing program was under way.

 

 

 

The area in which the attack occurred.

 

 

Paul Wilcox / Picture: Supplied

Byron Bay Main Beach / Picture: Twitter