Grieving Widow Fights for Shark Attack Surveillance to Prevent Tragedies

In September 2025, 57-year-old surfer Mercury 'Merc' Psillakis was killed by a 5-meter great white shark at Long Reef Beach near Dee Why, just days before the start of the patrol season. His widow, Maria Psillakis, is now speaking out, demanding more warnings, alarms, and surveillance to minimize the risks at Sydney's beaches.

Maria has many questions about the tragedy, including why there weren't more safety measures in place and why the shark alarm wasn't triggered until 45 minutes after the attack. She is determined to turn this devastating loss into positive change, in the hopes of preventing another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.

Maria's young daughter keeps asking "why" this happened, and the grieving widow struggles to find the right words. She acknowledges that the ocean is shark territory, but believes more can be done to protect the community. Maria plans to meet with the NSW Premier to discuss implementing measures like drones and drum lines, with the goal of saving lives.