Tag: Surf Life Saving NSW

Dee Why Public Safety Round-Up: 14–20 February 2026 Incidents

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Emergency services attended a series of traffic, medical and public order incidents across Dee Why between 14 and 20 February 2026, based on reports received by NSW Police and other responding agencies.

Read: Dee Why Lagoon Named Microplastic Hotspot in Seven-Year Sydney Waterways Study

Traffic Incidents

5:30am, Saturday 14 February
 NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Dee Why Station responded to a crash on Pittwater Road where a vehicle struck another car before coming to rest on the footpath. A 41-year-old man was located inside in a semi-conscious condition, with suspected intoxication noted. He was transported in a stable condition to Northern Beaches Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

12:45pm, Tuesday 17 February
 Police and paramedics attended a collision at Kingsway near Westminster Avenue involving a silver 2003 Holden Astra and an e-bike rider. The rider, a woman in her 50s, sustained a leg injury and was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

Medical And Injury Responses

10:30am, Sunday 15 February
 NSW Ambulance, assisted by NSW Police and the CareFlight Rescue Helicopter, responded to a report of a six-month-old girl experiencing an allergic reaction at Pacific Parade. After assessment near James Meehan Reserve, the infant was transported by road to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

10:30am, Sunday 15 February
 Surf Life Saving NSW Dee Why patrol requested ambulance assistance after a man dislocated his shoulder in the surf. Paramedics treated and relocated the shoulder at the scene.

5:15pm, Thursday 19 February
 NSW Ambulance attended St David Avenue near Dee Why Library after a 17-year-old girl was reported unconscious following a fall from a vehicle in a nearby car park. She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Rescue

3:00pm, Saturday 14 February
 Police and firefighters assisted with the safe release of a child locked inside a public toilet at Walter Gors Park on Howard Avenue.

Public Order And Property Reports

8:15pm, Sunday 15 February
 Police received a report of youths throwing eggs at vehicles along Oaks Avenue.

8:45pm, Sunday 15 February
 Police and NSW Ambulance responded to reports of a man collapsed on the pavement at Howard Avenue. The 26-year-old was described as intoxicated and became agitated when approached. Police restrained him after he allegedly reached toward an officer’s firearm. He was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for treatment and mental health assessment.

9:15pm, Sunday 15 February
 Police received a report of property damage at Oaks Avenue.

6:00pm, Monday 16 February
 Police were notified of a group of youths behaving in a disorderly manner near Howard Avenue.

7:45pm, Tuesday 17 February
 Police received a report of a group of youths gathered near Pittwater Road.

4:30pm, Thursday 19 February
 Police were notified of disorderly behaviour involving youths near Oaks Avenue.

7:30am, Friday 20 February
 Police received a report of property vandalism at Pittwater Road.

5:30pm, Friday 20 February
 Police were notified of suspected drug-related activity at Fisher Road.

8:00pm and 10:00pm, Friday 20 February
 Police received further reports of disorderly youths gathered near Oaks Avenue.

Read: James Meehan Reserve Now Has New Outdoor Fitness Equipment for Public Use

These matters were recorded by responding authorities during the reporting period.

Published 21-Feb-2026

More Drones, Longer Patrols: Northern Beaches Gets Boosted Shark Detection After Dee Why Tragedy

The devastating shark attack that claimed the life of Dee Why surfer Mercury Psillakis in September 2025 has sparked a major expansion of aerial shark surveillance across NSW, with $2.5 million in new funding set to put more eyes in the sky over the beaches this summer.

Read: Widow Calls for Stronger Protections After Dee Why Shark Incident

The additional investment will extend Surf Life Saving NSW drone patrols to cover a longer season and provide local boardrider clubs with their own drones and training through Surfing NSW. It’s a direct response to the tragedy that shook our community and left the Psillakis family searching for ways to prevent another family from experiencing such heartbreak.

Starting this season, SLSNSW drones began weekend surveillance a week earlier on 13 December 2025, and patrols will now continue until 29 March 2026. Throughout the Christmas holiday period and into the end of January, these drones will fly daily rather than just on weekends, providing crucial coverage during the busiest time of year on the beaches.

Shark
Photo credit: SLS Sydney

The partnership with Surfing NSW adds a new dimension to surf safety management. Boardrider clubs, including Long Reef on the Northern Beaches, will receive drones and training, giving surfers who often venture beyond patrolled areas an additional safety net. This collaboration emerged after SLSNSW worked with Surfing NSW to provide drone and jet-ski coverage for surfing events following Mercury’s death.

Beyond the aerial technology, the funding package includes Community Shark Bite Kits to be stationed at unpatrolled beaches. These potentially life-saving kits include items such as tourniquets, compression bandages, dressings, thermal blankets, whistles and gloves, along with first aid instructions specifically designed for serious bite injuries. The initiative came from Danny Schouten, whose friend Kai McKenzie survived a shark attack whilst surfing at Port Macquarie in 2024.

The SharkSmart app, already popular with beachgoers, will also receive improvements to enhance its usability and the quality of information it provides about shark activity and beach conditions.

Shark
Facebook/Tara Moriarty MLC

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty met with Maria and Mike Psillakis, Mercury’s wife and brother, before announcing the funding boost. Their conversations centred on increasing protection for boardriders and recognising surfers’ crucial role in beach safety as a lasting legacy for Mercury.

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby welcomed the announcement but emphasised that more needs to be done. The Northern Beaches currently has just three SLSNSW drones covering the entire coastline, alongside 15 shark nets, 30 SMART drumlines, and three tagged shark listening stations that track movements of tagged sharks.

The existing Shark Management Program already includes 305 SMART drumlines across 19 local government areas, shark nets at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong, and 37 tagged shark listening stations that send alerts to the SharkSmart app when tagged sharks are detected.

Minister Moriarty acknowledged that whilst there’s no foolproof way to eliminate shark interactions completely, combining technologies with increased public awareness significantly improves safety. The focus is on reducing interactions between swimmers, boardriders and sharks through better detection and information sharing.

For the Psillakis family and the broader Dee Why community, the announcement represents tangible change born from tragedy. Their advocacy, alongside local MPs and community leaders, has created a legacy that will benefit beachgoers and surfers across the state for years to come.

Read: Dee Why SLSC Names Five Members Awarded National Medals

As drones take to the skies this summer, they’ll serve as both practical guardians and poignant reminders of why this technology matters—and who it honours.

Published 13-January-2026