Shark attack victim Simon Nellist's aunt says he 'wouldn't want shark to be killed'
The aunt of the British man, Simon Nellist, who was mauled to death by a shark, has said he wouldn't have wanted the creature hunted. Her statement came after a hunt has been authorized by the Australian authorities to cull the Great White shark that killed him. British expat Simon Nellist, 35, was killed by a 4.5m shark about 100m from the main beach at Little Bay in Sydney's east on Wednesday, February 16, while he was training for an ocean swim event.
The driving instructor's aunt said her nature-loving nephew wouldn't want the shark to be killed following the attack. Jacqui Seager from Maidstone, Kent said, "I don’t think Simon would want the shark to be killed. He loved nature." She added, "He swam with the sharks before. This isn't the first time he's gone out and seen them but he would still go out swimming. That's brave. I don't think he ever thought they would hurt him. Sadly, this time it managed to get to him."
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Mum-of-three Mrs Seager also said Simon’s mum is "in bits" and the family are planning to fly out soon. "He told his mom he was going to travel to Australia and that was that. He loved it so much that he stayed. He met his girlfriend Jessie out there. They are around the same age and instantly hit it off. They've been together for years," Mrs Seager told DailyMail. "She [Jessie] is totally in bits, as are his parents. I spoke to them last night and they are beyond belief."
She continued, "They will never get through this, ever, as this is something you keep with you for life. I just feel so sorry for them. They are planning to get out there as soon as they can but need to sort visas out. Everyone was going to fly out there to see him get married in June or July but sadly it is now in much sadder circumstances." Simon Nellist was the first person to be killed by a shark in the Sydney area since the 1960s.
Seager stressed, "Simon always loved the sea. He was always very close to it. He loved wildlife and the world. He had a real love affair with nature. He was a very kind and considerate man who just loved life. He was a strong guy and did two tours of Afghanistan. His mum said how could he return from the frontline unscathed to then go to Australia, go out for a swim, and get killed."
Tragic posts of Simon before his death reveal how he loved the sea and called for a ban on shark nets and swam with the huge beasts. The Brit had spoken out about the nets and the drum lines which are used to keep the sharks away from swimmers, saying they indiscriminately killed wildlife. Simon in a Facebook post wrote, "Shark nets and drum lines protect no one and kill all kinds of marine life every year."
Unfortunately, Simon's death comes weeks before 'smart' drum lines were reportedly due to be installed which could have prevented the tragedy. Meanwhile, a shark expert who said he was horrified by the "severity and ferocity" of the Sydney tragedy says it would be pointless to now kill the animal. Marine biologist Larry Chlebeck said he thinks the shark may have mistaken him for a seal and calls for it to be culled were ill-informed and would serve no purpose.