A ‘loving’ dad-of-one was mauled to death by a shark while surfing at Sydney beach.

Mercury Psillakis is reported to have lost both of his legs in the attack on Saturday morning at Dee Why beach.

Fellow surfers brought his body to shore but the 57-year-old died at the scene,New South Wales Police confirmed.

Mercury was an experienced surfer and local to the area,and was in the water for only half an hour before the attack.

Inspector Stuart Thomson from the Northern Beaches Police Area Command said: ‘His body was found floating in the surf,and a couple of other people went out and recovered it but attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

Mercury Psillakis is reported to have lost both of his legs in the attack on Saturday morning at Dee Why beach (Picture: Facebook)

Mercury Psillakis is reported to have lost both of his legs in the attack on Saturday morning at Dee Why beach (Picture: AP/Facebook)

Police work at the site of a fatal shark attack at Dee Why Beach in Sydney (Picture: AP)

‘We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter – with tomorrow being Father’s Day,it’s particularly tragic.’

Witnesses said they saw a group of people ‘crying in a circle’,with one of Mercury’s relatives collapsing into the sand,the Daily Mail reports.

A shark net has been installed and beaches between Manly and Narrabeen have been closed.

Authorities are understood to still be searching for the shark.