Shark attack victim Simon Nellist survived Afghan war, mom can't believe he died on a swim
British expat Simon Nellist, who was killed by a great white shark in Sydney recently, was an Afghanistan war veteran. The 35-year-old victim's family has shared anecdotes about his life, as they are still finding it difficult to believe that he died while going for a swim. On February 16, 2022, Nellist was training for a charity event at Little Bay in Sydney, Australia, when he was attacked and killed by a 4.5-meter long shark.
His tragic death has already stunned other divers at the bay, as Nellist was considered one of the most experienced divers in the group. His aunt Jacqui Seager shared about his brave nature, saying, "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." She also noted, "I don’t think Simon would want the shark to be killed. He loved nature."
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Simon Nellist happened to be a seasoned war veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan. He was a hero at the Royal Air Force (RAF) and survived the brutalities of war. Speaking about his tales of courage, aunty Jacqui Seager noted, "He was a strong guy and did two tours of Afghanistan."
She also added that the Nellist's mother is still in disbelief about her son's death. "His mum said how could he return from the frontline unscathed to then go to Australia, go out for a swim and get killed."
"It's absolutely horrendous. We are all in shock," she remarked, sharing her fond memories about Simon. "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."
Meanwhile, his fiancee Jessie Ho is still reeling from the shock and heartbreak, as she revealed that she is unable to return home. The duo had actually met in Australia, where Nellist moved around six years ago. Due to Covid restrictions in the previous year, the couple postponed their marriage to this year and were just months away from tying the knot.
Nellist always referred to his fiance as "the girl of his dreams" and was always close to her. His parents Mike and Rosemary are believed to be flying in from the UK to comfort Jessie after they paid tribute to him on Saturday.