Revealed: Ex-RAF British expat dive teacher, 35, become the man killed by means of 13-toes long great white shark in Sydney as he trained for charity swim weeks earlier than Covid-delayed wedding to 'female of his desires'
Simon Nellist changed into attacked from below by way of the 13ft-long predator at Buchan Point close to Little Bay in Sydney
Attack befell about 500ft from the beach - with his remains and portions of a wetsuit found an hour later
Friends display 6ft 5in skilled ocean swimmer loved being inside the water and became approximately to get married
Witnesses watched shark 'assault vertically' and land 'like a automobile' within the water before dragging his body UPDATED: eleven:fifty three GMT, 17 February 2022
The British diving trainer mauled to demise by way of a notable white shark in Sydney whilst education for a charity swim turned into a former RAF engineer who changed into because of marry his fiancée after the pandemic behind schedule their wedding.
Simon Nellist, 35, became attacked from underneath with the aid of the 13ft-long predator at Buchan Point near Little Bay approximately 500ft from the seashore the day gone by afternoon. His remains and portions of a wetsuit had been determined in the water an hour later.
Friends found out nowadays that the 6ft 5in skilled ocean swimmer cherished being inside the water and lived in the Sydney suburb of Wolli Creek with his Australian fiancée Jessie Ho, who turned into described because the 'female of his dreams'.
Mr Nellist, who changed into at the beginning from Penzance in Cornwall where his circle of relatives nonetheless stay these days, became said to have fallen in love with Australia after going visiting about six years in the past following years serving in the RAF.
A friend informed The Sun: 'Him and Jessie have been because of get married last year however that got cast off because of Covid. It's simply horrendous. We spent most of the day past simply hoping and praying it wasn't him. It's nevertheless relatively uncooked.
'Simon changed into fantastic. That's all there may be to say really. He turned into just the satisfactory. He was the nicest, kindest human. It is a massive loss. In the ultimate couple of years we have not been able to see him because of the Covid state of affairs.'
The pal introduced that Mr Nellist 'did a few quite large tours' whilst serving with the RAF, and has no longer been back to the UK for a few years. His father Michael Nellist is a retired dentist and his mom is called Rosemary.
His buddy Della Ross informed 7 News: 'Everything this is related to Simon is hooked up to the ocean. The information hit us like a truck because he turned into one of the people who make this earth lighter. He cherished the water, he cherished diving.'
Mr Nellist also lived for a brief time in York round six years in the past, and one in every of his neighbours there told MailOnline: 'He turned into a nice man, a large, strapping bloke and at that point he became an engineer within the RAF. When I saw his call on the information I puzzled whether it changed into the equal man. It's fantastic, a actual tragedy for him and his family.'
One friend told MailOnline: 'Simon became the most high-quality guy. Our son's godfather from afar. We are all without a doubt heartbroken at this. He became experienced inside the water - he changed into respectful of the wonders in the water. He loved it. A large loss to the sector.' Another from Cornwall stated: 'We're still in surprise, it is too raw to speak about it.'
Witnesses watched the shark 'assault vertically' and land 'like a car' within the water, earlier than dragging his frame out into the ocean. The shark become about two times the scale of Mr Nellist and became the sea pink with blood after the attack.
The attack sparked panic on the seaside, which become packed with dozens of swimmers, paddle boarders and rock fishermen who watched in horror at what changed into unfolding. But authorities aren't believed to be planning to kill the shark, and will alternatively chase it faraway from the mainland if it's far picked up by drum strains set up on the scene.
Mr Nellist was described as a certified teacher who became calm, patient and advised college students to admire the sea. He was education for the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim because of take vicinity on Sunday - but it has seeing that been cancelled. Mr Nellist became referred to as a thrillseeker who enjoyed skydiving and became also a ordinary at his neighborhood Plus Fitness 24/7 health club.
He previously played a victim in diving rescue scenarios with scuba diving college Scubathlon, which is run by way of Ms Ross whose son Dmitriy drowned while freediving in Brighton Le Sands in 2018 after he were given caught in shark nets.
Mr Nellist swam in the region day by day and knew of the potential dangers of swimming in the ocean, having posted on Facebook simply six months in the past: 'Shark internet and drum lines defend no person and kill all kinds of marine life each 12 months.'
Emergency services have been known as at about 4.35pm the day past, before police found out at 6pm that stays were found. They then done DNA trying out in this to officially pick out him. Witnesses said the ocean changed into as 'white as a meringue' at the time and there has been a big college of fish that had attracted each fishermen and seagulls.
Mr Nellist died within the first fatal shark attack in Sydney in nearly six a long time for the reason that 1963 whilst Australian actress Marcia Hathaway, 32, became mauled by using at the same time as on a boating trip at Sugarloaf Bay in Middle Harbour. She changed into attacked by means of a bull shark in just 30 inches of water as her fiancé and friends watched on in horror, and died 20 minutes later.
The situations of the day prior to this's tragedy emerged as an animal welfare suggest claimed the shark probable mistook its victim for a helpless seal due to the fact he changed into carrying a wetsuit, including that the attack became extraordinarily rare.
Lawrence Chlebeck, from the USA-primarily based Humane Society International group, stated: 'It's very unusual to look a shark assault a human like that. Normally a bite isn't fatal. Normally they chunk some thing to parent out what it is.
'Once they realize it is a person and not a ordinary prey item, they take off. The substantial majority of shark bites are a 'one and carried out' prevalence. This is a very unique, and unfortunately tragic, scenario.'
Simon Nellist turned into attacked by using a 13ft-long shark at Buchan Point near Little Bay in Sydney the day gone by afternoon
Friends discovered that 6ft 5in ocean swimmer Mr Nellist was approximately to get married to his partner Jessie Ho (pictured collectively)
Simon Nellist (pictured along with his partner Jessie Ho) was mauled to demise via a incredible white shark yesterday afternoon
Mr Nellist (pictured with his partner Jessie Ho) became described as a calm and affected person licensed diving trainer in Sydney
Mr Nellist (0.33 from left) previously played a sufferer in diving rescue situations with scuba diving school Scubathlon
Mr Nellist said on Facebook six months ago: 'Shark net and drum strains shield no person and kill all styles of marine existence each 12 months'
Australia has averaged just 1.2 deadly attacks a year because the Seventies, in spite of a spike closing 12 months, Mr Chlebuck said.
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