One year after he was killed by a shark while surfing on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Mercury Psillakis’ sister has spoken of the uniquely massive wave of grief she and her family will face on the first anniversary of his death.
On Sunday, Eleni Psillakis and her family will commemorate Mr Psillakis’ death, exactly one year on from the day the 57-year-old father was attacked and killed by a great white shark while surfing near Dee Why.
Speaking on 2GB, Ms Psillakis said the day would be uniquely difficult, not only because it would force her and her loved ones to relive the worst day of their lives but because it also fell on both Father’s Day and her own daughter’s birthday.
“Every day is tough, every milestone is tough and this one is going to be especially difficult,” Ms Psillakis said.
“It’s my daughter’s birthday … she asked if she could change her birthday. There’s a whole range of emotions for me.”
Ms Psillakis said the family would be processing their grief in their “own individual ways.”
“I know we all grieve differently,” she said.
“Coming together with family helps for me. For Dad in particular, this has just rocked him to the core. Getting around Dad on Father’s Day and helping him through that, that’s what we’ll be doing.”
Ms Psillakis said her brother’s death had made her learn more about “the importance of drone surveillance”, which she said could have even potentially kept him alive.
“I was sure if there had been a drone that morning when Merc was in the water, he wouldn’t have died,” she said.
Ms Psillakis remembered her brother as a man who would “wave to everybody” and had surfed the Northern Beaches since he was 11 years old.
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