Shark victim Simon Nellist died two weeks before Little Bay received new tech

The shark that killed diving instructor Simon Nellist is unlikely to be found, experts say, as authorities revealed a ‘smart drumline’ was to be installed in the area in just two weeks.

Simon Nellist, 35, has been identified as the victim of Sydney’s first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years.

Scuba diving instructor Simon Nellist, 35, has been identified as the victim of Sydney’s first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years.

Mr Nellist was killed by what witnesses described as a 4m Great White Shark, while swimming near Little Bay, in Sydney’s east, on Wednesday. He was known to swim at the beach on most days and was believed to be training for the now-cancelled Malabar Magic Ocean Swim, due to be held on Sunday near the attack site.

Emergency services arrived quickly but were unable to save Mr Nellist.

The shark that killed him is unlikely to be found and could be 100km away, experts say, as authorities revealed a ‘smart drumline’ was to be installed in the area in just two weeks.

Mr Nellist, a British expat, was engaged to be married and was remembered by friends as a lover of the ocean.

Simon Nellist was engaged.

Simon Nellist and partner Jenny Ho.

“Everything that is connected to Simon is connected to the ocean,” friend Della Ross told Seven News. “The news hit us like a truck.”

Police and Australian Lifeguard Service volunteers searched into Thursday for remains and the shark after eastern suburbs beaches were closed as far north as Bondi and to Cronulla in the south.

The attack was “highly unusual” and the shark could be up to “100km away”, Paul Butcher, principal research scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, told The Australian.

Despite the shocking attack, Dr Butcher said: “We’re not part of the food chain, and fatalities from a shark attack are incredibly rare.”

The DPI runs the Shark Meshing Bather Protection program, which has overseen the installation of mesh nets at 51 beaches in NSW – from Wollongong to Coffs Harbour – designed to trap any sharks that come to close to the shore.

Only one fatality has struck at a netted beach since they were first installed in 1937. Dr Butcher said the installation of new “smart drumline” technology would offer greater protection to swimmers at beaches all over Australia.

“That location (Little Bay Beach) is not a netted beach ... but as part of the NSW government’s new shark management program there will be SMART (Shark Management Alert In Real Time) drum lines going in within that region,” Dr Butcher said.

“SMART drum lines have a communication unit attached, so when a shark trips the line it sends an email and text message to researchers and contractors ... it takes 12 to 15 minutes for the contractor to get to the line.

Drumlines are installed in Little Bay on Thursday.

“We’re rolling SMART drum lines out in the Sydney region, around where this incident happened, in about two weeks.”

If the shark involved in Wednesday’s attack is caught “a decision (will) have to be made” on whether it lives or dies.

“Putting down the shark is built into the instant response plan, but it can also be tagged and released – we just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Dr Butcher said.

“Our biggest priority is getting those drumlines in the water straight away.”

Simon Nellist was.a British expat.

Simon Nellist was a lover of the ocean.

The usually bustling inlet was sombre on Thursday as locals and media gathered to watch the police and lifeguard search.

Despite beaches being closed, the attack has put some community events in doubt. The popular Malabar Magic Ocean Swim, which had been due to take place on Sunday was cancelled.

But locals insisted they were eager to be back in the water.

“I come down here and swim at 6.30 every morning,” said Norm, a pensioner who didn’t wish to give her surname.

“I’m not going to let this turn me off coming back at all – it’s a beautiful place to swim 

“It’s a freak thing – nothing like that has ever happened before around here ... In all my years that I’ve been here, we haven’t had a single (shark).”

Police indicated the search would be scaled back overnight, ahead of plans to reopen Sydney beaches on Friday.

Additional reporting: Chloe Whelan

NSW fisheries and police search for remains at Little Bay on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger