Joe Yates
The twin brother of a surfer who was killed in a horrifying shark attack has shared the heartbreaking moment he believes was his sibling’s final gift.
Mike Psillakis, of Sydney, returned to the waves at Dee Why Beach just days after his twin brother, Mercury, was fatally mauled by a shark believed to be around 20ft in length.
Jumping on his board again in the same stretch of ocean was both a tribute and a test of courage.
Mercury lost his life on September 7 while surfing roughly 300 feet off Long Reef Beach when a shark attacked him.
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After joining friends for a paddle-out ceremony on Thursday (September 18), Mike later reflected on the bittersweet moment.
He wrote on social media: “Was good to get the monkey off my back this morning with some of my close friends and a few other special friends from other beaches on the peninsula.
“My first wave was undoubtedly gifted to me from my brother Mercury. It was a freak wave in substandard conditions.”
The week had been almost unbearable for Mike, who described the pain of laying his twin to rest.
He continued: “Yesterday was hard. Laying my brother down for his last eternal wave, but in the midst of the pain, down at Dee Why Beach, I knew he was playing with the dolphins.”
He posted screenshots of old text conversations that showed how in sync they were, particularly when it came to surfing.
In one exchange about Curl Curl Beach, Mike texted: “Drove past Curly. Looks like a wave.” Moments later, Mercury replied: “What’s Curly like.”
Mike responded with disbelief: “Wow. I sent your answer before you sent the question.”
He described the moment as “'ust another telepathic message' between them.
Reflecting further, Mike wrote: “I take solace in knowing that when Merc died, a part of me died with him. But more importantly a part of him lives through me, helping me to carry his flame as long as I live.”
Meanwhile, chilling new details have emerged about Mercury’s final moments. Witnesses say the experienced surfer was warning others about the predator before it struck.
Former pro surfer Toby Martin told the Daily Telegraph: “He was at the back of the pack still trying to get everyone together when the shark just lined him up. It came straight from behind and breached and dropped straight on him. It’s the worst-case scenario.”
The attack happened so fast that there was no chance of escape - Mercury was pulled beneath the surface and his board was destroyed.
His remains later washed ashore. Two lifeguards carried what was left of him onto the sand, but his injuries were so severe that no resuscitation attempt was possible.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support Mercury's wife and kids.