A 12-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a brutal shark mauling in Sydney Harbour, sparking terror across the city's beaches following a spate of four attacks in just 48 hours.
A Heroic Rescue Amidst the Chaos
The victim, talented young footballer Nico Antic, was playing with friends at a spot known locally as 'Shark Beach' in Sydney's eastern suburbs. The group was jumping from a six-metre rock ledge into brackish water—a mix of fresh and saltwater—at around 4.20pm on Monday.
A friend displayed immense bravery, risking his own life to pull Nico from the water while the predator was still circling. He administered first aid before police transported the critically injured boy to a children's hospital.
Family friend Victor Pineiro, who is raising funds for the family, described the incident as "devastating." He confirmed the family was facing an "unimaginably hard time" following what he termed the "worst possible outcome."
A Spate of Attacks Sparks Widespread Fear
The attack on Nico was the first in a frightening series. Later on Monday, an 11-year-old surfer at Dee Why beach had a 15cm bite taken out of his surfboard but escaped injury. Several hours after that, surfer Andre de Ruyter, 27, was pulled from the water at Manly's North Steyne with severe leg injuries and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The fourth attack occurred on Tuesday morning on the Mid North Coast, where a 39-year-old man was bitten on the chest after a shark struck his board and tore his wetsuit. He was later released from hospital.
All beaches in Sydney's northern areas remain closed until further notice as a safety precaution.
Experts Point to a 'Perfect Storm' of Conditions
Marine Area Command Superintendent Joseph McNulty stated that while the rescue was a "textbook recovery," the young victim was "in for the fight of his life." He suggested recent heavy rainfall created a dangerous combination of factors.
"We believe the combination of the brackish water, the fresh water, the actions of the splashing may have made that perfect storm environment for that shark attack," McNulty explained. Rain flushes nutrients into the water, attracting the fish that sharks prey on closer to shore.
Dr Daryl McPhee, an environmental science expert, confirmed that bull sharks are commonly seen around Sydney in January and February. He noted they are well-adapted to hunting in murky water after rain. "Where you find the fish, you find the bull sharks. Unfortunately, that sometimes occurs at popular beach locations," he said.
However, Dr McPhee emphasised that this cluster of attacks in such a short timeframe is "highly unusual."
Authorities Issue Stern Warning to Public
In response to the crisis, police have advised the public to avoid waterways across New South Wales due to decreased water quality and visibility. Superintendent McNulty was unequivocal: "I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time."
Steve Pearce, Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, echoed the warning, strongly advocating that nobody swim or surf near river mouths where sharks congregate. "If it's dirty water I'd think twice about going in there," he cautioned. "If you're thinking about going for a swim, just go to a local pool at this stage."
Bull sharks, which can thrive in both fresh and saltwater, are listed by the Australian Museum as one of the few species potentially dangerous to people and rank as the world's third deadliest shark.
