Sydney: A man has died after a suspected shark attack off Sydney’s northern beaches on Saturday, prompting the closure of several popular coastal spots.

Emergency services were called to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10 am following reports of a swimmer with critical injuries. Authorities said the man, believed to be in his 50s, was pulled from the water and brought to shore, but he could not be revived and died at the scene. His identity has not yet been confirmed.

Police said sections of a surfboard were recovered from the water and taken for analysis. Officers from the Northern Beaches Police Area Command have shut down the area while working with specialists from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species involved.

"Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved," police told ABC.

A witness said that they were on their way to Shelly Beach at Manly when an emergency announcement rang out across the area. "A megaphone announcement from a boat was warning 'there has been a shark attack, please get out of the water for your own safety'," he said.

As a precaution, beaches stretching from Manly to Narrabeen were closed and will remain off-limits until further notice, authorities said. It’s believed patrols are also monitoring waters as far south as North Steyne Beach.

The incident is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 2022, when a local diver was killed by a great white shark at Little Bay. 

(With inputs from agencies)