Simon Nellist: the story of the man who was eaten by a shark before his wedding

The victim of a ferocious white shark attack on Little Bay beach in southern Sydney (Australia), was identified as Simon Nellist. The 35-year-old Brit was preparing for a charity swim, just weeks before his wedding.

Originally from Cornwall, UK, Nellist was a certified diving instructor and ex-serviceman. According to the lifeguards, he swam in that same place every day around 4:30 pm, the same time he probably lost his life.

Before the attack, the Briton was training for the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim charity event, which was to take place offshore on Sunday. The day was suspended after the tragic news.

According to the Daily Mail, nellist and his girlfriend, Jessie Ho, were planning to get married in the coming weeks, a plan that they were finally going to carry out after a long wait, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two met shortly after she arrived in Australia six years ago.

His friends revealed that she was “the girl of his dreams” and he was focused on the relationship. The wedding was going to be last year, but quarantines and other anti-coronavirus measures ruined the celebrations.

Another relevant and ironic fact about his life is that he was a fervent defender of marine life and sharks. Even before the pandemic, nellist and his fiancée went to Rainbow Beach, near Fraser Island, to dive with sharks, an experience he recommended to acquaintances.

“Shark nets and drum lines protect no one and kill all kinds of marine life every year,” he had written. nellist on Facebook six months ago, referring to the methods used to keep sharks away from bathers.

His friends remember him as a man who loved adventure and, above all, was loved by everyone around him.

the day of the tragedy

Nellist was attacked Wednesday under the helpless gaze of fishermen and golfers who played in courses near the coast. In a video published on social networks, the moment in which the British is intercepted by the predator is seen, causing panic among the witnesses.

According to wildlife scientists consulted by ABC News, the white shark that injured him must be between 4 and 5 meters long.

It is possible that the shark mistook him for a seal or a regular prey (due to the neoprene suit he was wearing), since this type of aggressive behavior is not normal.

According to reports from other swimmers, the shark headed toward him vertically before “landing like a car” in the water. Then, he dragged his body into the ocean.