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A Sydney couple is facing an unthinkable reality after a massive blaze destroyed their wedding venue two weeks ahead of their special day.

The fire broke out The Loxley on Bellbird Hill in Kurrajong Hills at about 7pm on Friday night after flames were spotted in the main reception building.

Fire services worked to extinguish the blaze; however, the main building was destroyed, with nearby buildings also damaged.

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Mitch Wildman and Lisa Perry, who were due to be the next couple to get married at the heritage venue, have been left scrambling to find a new venue.

"It's horrible, there's no other way to describe it," the groom-to-be told Today.

"We'd just finished sorting everything out, we were sitting down on Friday afternoon at 12.30pm saying 'everything's paid for, everything's done, everything's finalised'.

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"We picked up the wedding dress, we picked up the suit."

Later that day, the couple received a text message from Wildman's nephew with the bad news.

"He happens to live out there," Wildman said.

"He said 'have you heard? Loxley is on fire'. I don't know how to describe it, my heart just dropped, horrible."

The fire has been a double blow for Perry, who lost her father a few weeks ago.

"It's been really overwhelming, with dad passing away eight weeks ago, it's been a lot to get through," the bride-to-be said.

"Putting the wedding in front of my mind and my family's mind is something we've been looking forward to.

"It's like another thing has been ripped away, not just for me but for everybody."

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The couple has received an outpoouring of support from family, friends and wedding venues.

"That's what really makes a difference," Perry said.

"It's something you don't imagine going like this.

"It takes a lot of money and a lot of hard work to get a wedding, it's extremely emotional.

"All we can do now is hope the money that's tied up in the venue eventually comes back.

"With 13 days to go, it's a big adventure and a big task we're taking on to try and make it happen."

Firefighters had the fire under control by 10.30pm but remained on scene into the morning to control spot fires in the debris.

Police are still investigating the cause, although it is not currently being treated as suspicious.

A 40-year-old man is currently in hospital after suffering burns to his face while attempting to extinguish the fire.

The Loxley on Bellbird Hill in Kurrajong has been the place where countless couples have tied the knot for decades.

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A father and experienced surfer has been killed by a shark in front of several people at a popular beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Mercury Psillakis, 57, was surfing with several friends about 100 metres off Long Reef in Dee Why when he was bitten by what police described as a "large" shark about 10am today.

Northern Beaches Police Area Commander Superintendent John Duncan said Psillakis suffered catastrophic injuries and lost several limbs.

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Psillakis and his board disappeared before he was found floating in the water.

Surfers pulled him to shore but, despite efforts to save his life, he had lost a lot of blood and died at the scene.

Psillakis' wife and daughter rushed to the beach after hearing the news. His brother, Mike, arrived shortly after.

"We understand he leaves behind a wife and a young daughter, and tomorrow being Father's Day, it's particularly critical and tragic," Duncan said.

Psillakis was an experienced surfer who lived in the area and never missed a morning out on the waves.

Sean Pearce paid tribute to his friend, who lived life travelling the world, surfing, spending time with his family and working.

"He was a good bloke to everyone. You couldn't find someone to say a bad word about him," Pearce said. 

"When I grew up, he was always one to help out the grommets."

Authorities offered their condolences to Psillakis' family and the wider tight-knit community.

"There has been a tragic loss of life on one of our beaches, and our deepest condolences today are with the man's family and friends," Northern Beaches Council said.

Premier Chris Minns said this was an "awful tragedy".

"My heart goes out to the victim's family and friends," he said in a statement.

"I also want to thank the first responders and community members who tried to help in such tough and confronting circumstances.

"Shark attacks are rare, but they leave a huge mark on everyone involved, particularly the close-knit surfing community."

Duncan said the attack was a "freak incident that happens very, very rarely".

Several people were at the beach and its surrounds during the time of the attack, including competitors in a junior surf competition.

Beaches from Narrabeen to Manly have since been closed, and will remain so for at least 24 hours.

Dee Why is expected to remain closed for up to 76 hours. 

Authorities were out in the water trying to find the shark, but were unable to do so.

Police and shark biologists from the Department of Primary Industries are examining the body, two sections of a surfboard that were recovered and speaking with witnesses to determine the species of shark involved.

Sydneysiders are urged to avoid beaches in the area as lifeguards keep people from entering the water.

Drone operators will be scanning the water for any signs of shark activity.

"Volunteers will continue to assist council and authorities to protect the public from further danger in any way we can," Pearce said.

"For now, please remain clear of the water at beaches in the vicinity and follow the direction of lifeguards and lifesavers."

Authorities offered their condolences to the victim's family and the wider community. 

"There has been a tragic loss of life on one of our beaches, and our deepest condolences today are with the man's family and friends," Northern Beaches Council said.

"Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy," Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said.

"The NSW government's thoughts are with the bite victim, their family and the first responders," a spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries said.

READ MORE: Fire destroys heritage wedding venue in Sydney's north-west

Shark attacks in Sydney are incredibly rare, with only one recorded fatality in the past 60 years.

Diving instructor Simon Nellist was killed while swimming off Little Bay Beach in the city's south in 2022.

The shark was confirmed later to be a great white.

Before that, the last fatal shark attack in Sydney was in 1963, when well-known actress Marcia Hathaway was fatally mauled by a bull shark while standing in 30cm of water in Middle Harbour.

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Shark nets came up for the season across 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong on Monday. 

There is a shark net in place off Dee Why Beach.

Three shark drumlines were set at Dee Why this morning, as per normal practice. 

Crews have installed two more drumlines between Long Reef and Dee Why.

The Department of Primary Industries said sharks are present in the state all year round but can be more prevalent in an area due to weather, ocean conditions and availability of food.

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“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my whānau, my friends, my supporters.”

A car has gone crashing into an alterations shop in Adelaide, with witnesses hailing it a "miracle" that no one was injured.

Emergency crews were called to George Street in Norwood about 11.30am today.

CCTV captured the silver Toyota making a U-turn and swiping three cars before driving onto a footpath on the opposite side of the road.

READ MORE: Dad killed by 'large shark' while surfing at popular Sydney beach

The car was seen knocking over a street sign and narrowly avoiding two women before it crashed into the alterations shop.

"Very loud, very loud," witness Sue Duong said.

Witnesses rushed to help the driver, a 46-year-old man from Kent Town, and called for help.

Firefighters worked to free the man, and the car was later towed away. 

The driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries and fined for the crash.

The shop owner told 9News he was inside at the time, but was luckily in the back corner of the store.

"It's a miracle no one was hit," Duong said.

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A popular American influencer is facing a fine after posting a video of himself grabbing a crocodile in Far North Queensland.

Mike Holston, known on social media as @therealtarzann, has gained an audience of more than 15 million followers for his wildlife videos. 

He is currently in Australia, where he has found himself in hot water.

READ MORE: Dad killed by 'large shark' while surfing at popular Sydney beach

Yesterday, he posted a video jumping out of a boat in the waters near Cape York and approaching a sunbathing freshwater crocodile.

He wrestled the two-metre reptile out of the water and held it up by its throat for the camera.

"Take a look," he said, with a gash on his arm that was bleeding. 

"You got a good piece of my arm there.

"This is what dreams are made of. Ever since a kid, I wanted to come to Australia and just look at crocodiles."

The Department of Environment said it is taking the matter seriously and is investigating.

Holston, who once said Steve Irwin was his idol growing up, could face a $3000 fine.

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A terrified family say they have been forced to move after a masked group fired shots into their home in south-west Melbourne.

Three people, armed with a machete, gun and what appeared to be a hammer, smashed through the windows of a home on Powlett Street in Werribee about 9pm yesterday.

CCTV showed them firing shots into the home, one of which narrowly missed a 23-year-old man who was asleep in his bedroom.

READ MORE: Dad killed by 'large shark' while surfing at popular Sydney beach

The trio then made their way into their silver sedan and fled the scene.

Inside the home, the family of six hid in their bathroom. The entire ordeal played out in less than a minute. 

9News understands a teenage boy living at the home was the target. 

Neighbours who heard the commotion said they were left terrified.

"When hearing this sort of stuff goes on in your local neighbourhood, you're petrified about it," Earle Boulter said.

"I was actually pretty scared to be fair. I've never been around violence or anything, so it's a wake-up call," Caleb Vincent said.

The family has lived at the home for five years but are now too scared to stay there.

They said they will be moving out.

The trio remain on the run as police investigate. 

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