Hundreds of mourners gathered at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Crows Nest on 18 September to farewell Mercury Psillakis, the surfer who died in a shark attack off Dee Why beach.
Read: Surfer Killed in Shark Attack off Long Reef, Dee Why Beach Closed
The 56-year-old father and long-time member of the local surfing community passed away on Saturday, 6 September, after being mauled by a five-metre great white shark. He had been surfing with friends just after 9:30 a.m. and had been in the water for around half an hour when the attack occurred.
Witnesses said he was only about 100 metres from shore when he disappeared beneath the surface. Fellow surfers managed to bring him to land, but he had suffered catastrophic injuries and could not be revived.
Psillakis was remembered as a devoted husband, father, son, and brother. His funeral service was held at 11am at the Crows Nest church, before a committal at Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery in Belrose. A wake followed at Dee Why RSL, where family and friends continued to pay tribute to his life.
At the service, surfboards carried by mourners formed a guard of honour, and a floral arrangement shaped like a surfboard stood at the pulpit, symbolising his deep connection to the ocean. Inside, his maroon casket bore the marks of kisses and touches from relatives, friends, and fellow surfers.
Tributes recalled Mercury Psillakis as a man with a strong sense of community, someone who stood by loved ones during illness and hardship, and who spent much of his time in the water with his surfing mates. His final moments, spent warning others of the danger, were described as consistent with his selfless nature.
His wife Maria and daughter Freedom were at the centre of the farewell, supported by family as they offered their last goodbyes.
Read: Once-Overlooked Dee Why Becomes Northern Beaches Hotspot
In lieu of flowers, donations were collected at the church for the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, reflecting Psillakis’ generosity and ongoing legacy of care for others.
Published 19-September-2025
