Simon Nellis and his partner Jessie Ho
(Picture: Facebook)The fiancée of a 35-year-old British man killed in a shark attack in Sydney has paid tribute to him by sharing a touching photo of the day he proposed.
Former RAF serviceman Simon Nellist was training for a charity swim when he became the first victim of such an attack at the city’s beaches in almost 60 years.
An experienced diving instructor, he was due to marry Jessie Ho after their ceremony had been postponed by the Covid pandemic.
The wedding was reportedly scheduled to take place just weeks after his tragic death, according to Daily Mail Australia.
Ms Ho posted a touching image of the day her fiancée proposed, sparking a flood of well-wishes from friends.
One wrote: “I love the story of the not-so-surprising surprise engagement. Simon was truly one of the good ones and I will miss him.”
Another friend heaped praise on the couple for withstanding a long-distance relationship.
“You guys were the love story that made me believe in long distance relationships and making each other grow in all the best ways,” she wrote.
“He’ll be missed.”
Emergency services were called to Little Bay at 4.35pm local time on Wednesday after reports a swimmer had been attacked by a shark.
Witness Kris Linto said the shark “came and attacked him (the victim) vertically”.
He told Nine News TV: “We heard a yell and then turned around. It looked like a car just landed in the water – big splash.”
Lucky Phrachnanh, from New South Wales state ambulance, said the victim “suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the attack”, adding there was nothing paramedics could do when they arrived at the scene.
The incident, believed to be the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, prompted the immediate closure of more than a dozen beaches in the area until Friday.
A spokesman for the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said: “Based on footage provided by the public, including eyewitness accounts, DPI shark biologists believe that a white shark, at least three metres in length, was likely responsible.”
It is believed Mr Nellist was training for the 5k Malabar Ocean Swim when he was killed. The event was cancelled on Sunday as a result.
