Maria Psillakis opens up about deep loss and hails Government’s shark-spotting drone plan
Maria Psillakis mourns her husband Mercury’s “laugh, scent and touch” three months after his death as she welcomed the Minn’s Government's plan for shark spotting drones
The wife of shark attack victim Mercury Psillakis has praised the state government’s plan for shark-spotting drones to be deployed to unpatrolled surfing spots.
Maria Psillakis said the Minns government’s $2.5 million move — which includes 200 “bite kits” to be sent to regional beaches this summer — was “a massive step in the right direction.”
The mother of one lost her husband Mercury, 57, when he a 5 metre predator took him 100 metres off the beach at Dee Why.
Writing on social media, she accepted there is always a risk to surfers entering territory that is not theirs and spoke about her struggles in the three months since the shark attack.
“We cannot eliminate the risks but we can minimise the risks,” she said writing on her Facebook page.
“There is always room for improvement.
“Strategies will be considered, questioned and reviewed to ensure the community can feel safe about enjoying Australia’s beautiful beaches.”
“(But) safety needs to be considered 365 days per year, not just summer and all Sydney beaches will have access to resources such as surveillance drones,” she said writing on her Facebook page.
“Merc’s legacy will reflect the way he dedicated himself to keeping people safe in the water.
“If we can improve safety because of him then something meaningful can come from this terrible loss.
“Thank you to everyone involved it was a team effort. The government is listening, thank you for taking the time, for your kindness and support Tara Moriarty MLC Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst LRSA - Longy Boardriders.”
She also spoke about missing her husband, writing: “without your laugh to warm me, your scent to ground me, your touch to steady me.”
Mercury’s wife Maria and his twin brother Michael have been campaigning for greater shark mitigation since his death on September 6 and have met with Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty and representatives from Surfing NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Shark-spotting drones announced last week comes in the wake of several attacks for swimmers off NSW beaches including Mercury Psillakis in September and a Swiss backpacker, Livia Mühlheim, 25 who died after being repeatedly attacked by a suspected bull shark near Port Macquarie.
Ms Mühlheim’s boyfriend Lukas Schindler, 26, was also mauled, and is recovering in hospital.
The two fatalities are the state’s highest equal annual fatality rate from sharks since three people lost their lives in 1955.
Patrols will also be extended to beyond the usual end of January as part of the shark mitigation program.
The government will work with Surfing NSW to offer drone training to board rider clubs between Newcastle and Wollongong while the SharkSmart van will travel up and down the coast over summer to answer community questions.
The funding will pay for additional drones to go to Surfing NSW, which will work with its boardriding clubs to patrol the more remote corners of beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong.
“I met the Psillakis family recently,” Ms Moriarty had said.
“Expediting the rollout of drones and training to Surfing NSW and their boardrider clubs is a significant contribution to honouring his legacy.”
