"Mercury was my life, my right hand man. Words cannot describe the bond we had together growing up."
On a pretty spring Saturday afternoon, the eve of Father’s Day, the well-known northern beaches ripper Mercury Psillakis died in the sort of Great White attack that has become a grim feature of Australian beaches.
Mercury Psillakis, was fifty-seven, and the twin-brother of the noted shaper Mike Psillakis, a man whose high-performance surfboards have long been a staple of the area’s best surfers.
Police described the attack as “rare” but it’s only rare if you have no sense of what has passed and what life in the ocean was like prior to the Great White becoming a protected species in 1999.
And, unlike southern California, where the Great White appears to co-exist in harmony with surfers and swimmers, the relationship is anything but benign in Australian waters, north, east, south and west.
RIP, Zac, Paul Tadashi, Rob, Mani, Mark, Tim, Simon, Nick, Cameron, Jevon, Paul, Nick, Jarrod, Peter, Sam, Simon, Tod, Khai, Lance, Ken, Bradley, Geoffrey, Brian, Nicholas, Kyle, Bryn, George, Peter, Ben, Chris, Jay, Ben, Doreen, Laeticia, Gary, Andrew, Paul, Steven and, now, Mercury.
A couple of weeks earlier, a little further north at Cabarita, a surfer was in waist-deep water when his mid-length was bitten in half by a fifteen-foot Great White. His story had a happy ending.
A who’s who of surfing paid tribute to Mercury Psillakis, including Tom Carroll, Barton Lynch, Ronnie Blakey and Toby Martin.
His twin Mike Psillakis, meanwhile, wrote:
This is the hardest moment of my life
He was my Ying, I was his Yang ☯️
He was my mirror, my blood, my DNA.
We were telepathic.
We share the same soul.
Mercury was my life, my right hand man.
Words cannot describe the bond we had together growing up. We had our own language and shared the same dreams, literally.
The experiences we had together ❤️ were truly amazing.
His message to all is to live life with pure passion.
Express ALL emotions, whether they are happy sad angry or mad
Tell your loved one’s that you love them. Hold them tight.
Get rid of the filter that hides who you really are.
He was passionate about being REAL !
He would be the life at every party. The pure energy from him could be felt in every corner ✨️
In later years he developed a passion for exotic palmsand one of the best at palm seedling germination in which nurseries admired and bought. @plantmadtropicals
He loved his wife Maria and Freedom so very much. Please send them support in any way you can @avemariaap
Thank you all for the heart felt message of support. I love ❤️ you all
❤️❤️❤️❤️
I LOVE YOU BRO
YOU ARE FOREVER WITH ME, THROUGH ME
“It’s the right thing to do,” NSW premier Chris Minns said.
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The “right thing to do” would be to end protections for the Great White Shark at the state and federal level in Australia and put out a tender for a licensee for each state, to go fishing and remove as many large sharks from the ecosystem as possible.
Time to put government policy on the side of protecting surfers, divers and other ocean users, NOT to promote the the comfort, security and well-being of Great White Sharks.
GWS have nothing on Israel when it comes to attacking innocents but not much action being taken on putting an end to that? Maybe sharks are just exercising their right to defend themselves?
Condolences to Mercury,s family and all involved in this incident.
We run the gauntlet daily my beloved fellow readers.
Do amazing things with disregard to our inevitable perishing.
Big love.
Xox
Extra Xs and Os today, Canine scrotum.
oh FFS…trauma is a part of life……
Bit callous mate.
When you witness kids getting legs ripped off and dying on the beach in front of their parents it’s not easy for anyone to move on.
Sounds incredibly horrific Mystic- hope you can move on OK with your life in the fullness of time.
callous or reality…….what happens if you can’t move on or won’t?
Trauma is everywhere…read the news this morning?
Humans as a species try and do something about it.
Thats the reason you exist and your ancestor didn’t get taken out by a sabre-tooth tiger.
agree….and that’s where trauma lives…….the old survival of the fittest…means war/killing/culling……PTSD!
….but wait, I thought one species killing another species or one of its kind is a good thing.
sharks can kill humans at will, but humans can’t kill sharks?
confusing logic.
at present humans kill 100 m sharks a year and sharks kill 10 people a year…….and from my scientific perspective….most attack and deaths are mistakes as humans are not on the sharks menu!
Current science is the “mistaken identity” theory is not supported by evidence.
Most white shark attacks are partial or whole consumption of victims.
All well documented- didn’t make the cut on the Netflix doco- didn’t want to ruin the sexy vibe.
I agree that the whole “mistaken identity” theory promulgated by landlubber “scientists” has always been laughable and flat out wrong.
I also believe that it’s not an either/or equation. Sharks and all other animals on earth that prey upon humans are not collectively sacrosanct. If there is an attack, then by all means go out and immediately and try to kill and remove the offender. But indiscriminate and wholesale culling for the sake of revenge or a belief that this will in some way make the ocean “safe” for us fragile humans is nonsense. The threat will always be there and the regional fluctuations in shark populations worldwide will continue as they have throughout time.
Brutus makes excellent points that many are knee-jerking with an overly emotional reaction from the trauma of living in an area or seeing and knowing someone who was bit or eaten by a shark. Being pragmatic and not irrational about mitigation measures where there’s a higher threat of attack is really what’s in order. And if that means hunting and killing the suspect shark or staying out of the fricken water where there are sharks, then so be it.
LT laments that in and around his area the populations and attacks have risen exponentially. He believes that drum lines are the best solutions for now. But drum lines really aren’t doing it now are they? Or nets. Or drones. Because of the non targeted bycatch of dolphins etc and indiscriminate nature of nets those should be totally taken out of the picture. But even if used all together they really won’t stop attacks if indeed the populations are growing and as out of control as believed.
If you’re a coastal poofter, seaside softie or hipster newbie that can’t handle the cosmic and Faustian-like trade off to surf or swim in the scary sea then get the fuck out of the ocean and go surf in a safe wave pool.
I don’t wanna diss Mo’s viewpoint so a bit of clarification: I think that large predator surface feeding sharks will hit on anything that looks remotely like an eatable prey. After their first brutal hit they’ll back off to actually see if it’s palatable then quickly move in to consume. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen huge shark bites on my mooring floats and on open ocean flotsam and jetsam. From below they will sometimes suddenly hit on my boat without even any bait or catch on the line. I do believe that if a shark hits on a human they will quickly know it’s edible.
And here’s another of my useless opinions on drone effectiveness: I think that some, if not most, attacks are by stealth, the shark seeing it’s potential prey from deeper then coming up quickly for the quick hit. Lots of the drone footage I see of sharks lazily on the surface with humans nearby don’t really seem to be on the serious hunt.
seen it myself many times
comment of the century
hmm science vs emotional fear brought on by lack of education……seems logical for humans?
So terribly sad
nail a couple a year and they will bugger off
Old baited drum lines seem to work best
Cull
Sooo we know it’s illegal to kill GW’s.
But whatever happened to the much celebrated great Australian heritage of breaking laws ?
The convict countrys Ned Kelly spirit, etc.
P.S.
It appears that Australia’s coastal communities (and the surfers from them) are all a pack of seaside softies these days, since this latest generation who know nothing but the expoitative millionaire mansion gentrification of once noble areas.
If it was country bogans and inland ockers being killed in their own backyards they’d have no qualms about getting rid of the toothsome critters, even if it risked a bit of jail and a fine.
Coastal poofters only seem to commit crimes for the cash these days, and have no idea of civic duty to protect their fellow community members…
Didn’t covid show you what total pussies Australians had become
or was it the governments?
yeah what happened to ol Ned?
He went down in history as an Aussie legend, and became the subject of many books, movies and a million bogan tattoos…
Admittedly that was after he was hanged by the neck until dead, but he was a lowlife thief and a cop killer, not a civic-minded vigilante.
A shark culler would get a couple of years in the clink (and/or a fine that would be crowd-funded), then be released to a heroes welcome, and cash-in with the book/movie deals etc and become a worldwide internet sensation…
hmm cop killer…there’s one running around in Vicco at the moment who killed 2 cops…….do you think he might become an urban legend?
Coastal poofters…..is that a new name for people scared of sharks?
We got one over here, hid in the bush with his three kids for 4 years, Shot a cop in the head before he got a bullet himself. Some circles are painting him aa a hero. Meanwhile 3 kids left behind in a media circus and have spent the last 4 years hiding in the bushes. They’re going to have a rough time.
Resurected as Desi Freeman
coastal poofters
Yes indeed
And seaside softies…
Love it 😆
This would never have happened on Winsteins watch
What a heartbreaking story, RIP mate
As tragic as this is anyone who is dumb enough to think it makes sense removing a living species from nature was clearly napping in Biology 101.
What an over reaction. nobody said anything about extinction but perhaps a mindful approach to mitigating these unnecessary deaths, you know, like gun control/mass shootings – or are we in their environment and deserve it?
even if it did come to the point of bringing about the extinction of a beast that has but one purpose, a killing machine…..what would it matter?
would the eradication of the GWS dramatically effect the ecosystem, as it was effected by say T-Rex or other dinosaurs?
It’s like if you had gang of serial killers roaming the streets randomly killing innocent people, would they not deserve to be eradicated? Honestly, would anyone miss GWS’s should they cease to exist?
understanding how nature works in one of mankinds greatest weakness’s. Scientists explain logically thru their studies how and why…but vested interests and Politics are fucking us all as the planet’s environment degrades to where we now are having to change our lifestyles…….so yeah the Great white sissy’s might cease to exist…..
Culling GWS because we are scared of them is just a human emotional reaction based on ……fear…..how’s the US economy doing?
From White Shark Ocean: “Great white sharks, as apex predators, hold a significant position in the marine ecosystem. Their role in regulating populations, redistributing nutrients, and controlling the spread of disease is crucial for maintaining the overall health and balance of marine life.” Tunas are also apex predators….and they’re yummy.
Sounds like WSO, and you…..believe Killers are a good thing.
now there’s an interesting thought…..what belongs to who?
Humans 100’s of thousands of years vs 450 million….so is it time that gives you ownership?
evolution of sharks v. evolution of humans.
Humans win.
so sharks have been here for 450 m years……..and us humans are currently trying the best they can to ruin their environment……do ya think that we will be here in anther 450m years?
no, but sharks probably will.
you and I have different understandings about the creation of earth and the existence of life forms. I also do not put a lot of faith in modern science and scientific biases.
to your question will “we” be here in 450 million years; maybe. the fact that you say sharks have existed for 450 million years; why not?
as a species we are much smarter than sharks and have proven resilience. If we are such a young and intelligent species, why not?
As far as ruining the planet, if you truly know the history of the planet as you claim, then you would also understand that the current era (climate wise) is the most temperate period and most livable of time on the planet, with the highest mortality rate in history as well.
that said, it amazes me that the man who constantly decries mans destruction of the planet, has sustained himself through the manufacturing and sale of a product that is exclusively comprised of petroleum based products. where’s that finger pointing, Brutus?
I can see that your understandings of environment/politics/spirituality are different than mine……..that’s what makes the world go round …and who’s to say who’s right or wrong……so what do you put your faith in….and beliefs based on what?
we see climate changing/geo politics…and there seems to be a lack of Spirituality….so change every day…..and as you so rightly say…humans have a certain resilience…..
My comments on what you call Mans destruction of the Planet are just saying that we cannot keep living like we are living as we are running out resources….which is why I think presently we have crossed a line where we can just keep living the way we are…in fact no-one seems grateful or thankful of what we already have….so greed is driving the current political narrartive….
Yes I have sustained myself by making a few toxic toys for ocean frolickers……but have also learnt a shit load about green washing and what is a sustainable surfboard…..so would like to think and hope / pray that we can navigate the current global dilemmas …..but first you have to understand the problems to fins solutions!
“in fact no-one seems grateful or thankful of what we already have….”
just stood at base of a wave tub tonight left and rights mechanically quiet sets broke in my direction. “It sounds like the ocean, but the view sucks!” I declared to Child Pirates father. Not once did I have the urge to run get my board..
I give humans about 450 more years at best…
No.
Might is right.
Rather, Happy, I think there will be some more deaths, to the point that tourists stop swimming in the oceans in Oz. At that point things will change. The almighty dollar at the end of the day will make the decision, rightly or wrongly. Whomever those unlucky souls will be over the next few years, will be moving the politicians and chambers of commerce towards this inevitable end. Really, no one wins–the sharks, just living in their environment, and the humans, just wanting to enjoy the ocean.
happy….man is a natural born killer ….
yep we are in their environment, no one deserves to be killed by a shark……we live in a fantasy of we should all die of old age and there are no such things as accidents?
of course not, doesnt mean we should turn a blind eye to a consistent threat tho.
therein lies the problem…….everybody has a different opinion on what constitutes a threat…….and if consistent is 3 deaths in 60+ years……??
Over reaction Ha! Of course we’re in their fucking environment and since we treasure it (particularly as surfers), it’s a space we should protect at all costs. Also a ‘partial’ reduction of sharks doesn’t eliminate the risk to humans while still adding to a dangerous imbalance in nature that ultimately poses a risk to our existence on this planet. Plus mitigation efforts like nets kill sharks that pose no ‘threat’ as well as dolphins, whales, turtles etc etc etc. But perhaps the best people to ask for their opinion on this topic are those who have been bitten and every one I’ve ever spoken to or read about supports the protection of sharks. Also the gun analogy is disingenuous. Fuck Guns and gun owners and the absurdity of the ‘right to bear arms’ in the modern era. It’s a self perpetuating cycle violence and people who buy guns mainly do it because it fills a space in their otherwise sense of low self worth and it only adds to the never ending cycle of death and injury attributed to guns. As a South African I feel fairly well qualified to offer this opinion because we have a large shark population and a huge amount of guns.
It’s hard to believe that humans think they have the right to remove something that has been around for millions of years and that is fundamental to the health of the ocean so that they can splash around for a bit of fun on a Sunday afternoon. It’s the height of arrogance.
You live in house on cleared land, drive a car on a bulldozed road? these imagery moral lines of choice are amusing.
fucken simpleton, you should take up surfing
Disingenuous? You mean like your overall , sanctimonious SA vibe? strange times indeed
There’s nothing sanctimonious about living in a society plagued by gun violence or navigating our sharky waters. Though you do learn a thing or two about the value of life. But putting human pleasure above the health of the planet. That’s the moral equivalence of being a climate change denier or fossil fuel lover.
Pretty crazy how the anti-human agenda has become so normalized that each unsurprising and inevitable attack is met with the same collective shrug by those with the power to do something about it, ie not the public who fantasize that they live in a democracy, who have been so thoroughly conditioned to keep bending over and taking it. As if they are resigned that there’s nothing they can do about it, other than thoughts and prayers.
I was at the beach when it happened….most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my 35 years of surfing…. Happened to one of the nicest guys you could come across.
Speak to any fisherman at Hawks nest, Byron bay, ballina, etc or on the west coast and they will say the numbers have increased dramatically and they won’t put their foot in the water. Who counts the sharks? Incentive by those groups to keep saying the numbers are going down in Australia? I call BS and bring in the cull
I can’t even imagine. So fkn heavy.
thoughts and prayers, really heavy.