A teenage boy is in a critical condition in hospital after a terrifying shark attack at a popular Sydney beach on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency Response at Shark Beach
The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 pm on Sunday 18 January 2026 in the waters near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, an eastern suburb of Sydney. NSW Ambulance Service confirmed the boy sustained severe injuries to both legs. He was transported to the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick for emergency treatment.
Police from the Marine Area Command and Eastern Suburbs Police responded to the scene within minutes of receiving the emergency call. The boy was rescued and given immediate first aid for his serious leg injuries aboard a police vessel. He was then taken to Rose Bay wharf, where NSW Ambulance paramedics continued vital treatment before hospital transfer.
Attack Outside Damaged Net Enclosure
Authorities believe the teenager was swimming outside the protective net enclosure at the time of the attack. According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, the boy had been jumping off rocks into the water. Shark Beach features a shark net, but it was damaged during major flooding in April last year. Repairs to the net were only completed in early December.
Following the attack, police immediately closed Shark Beach and advised all swimmers to avoid entering the water. Video from the scene showed paramedics treating the boy inside a distinctive blue police rescue tent erected on the sand.
Context of Shark Attacks in Australia
This serious incident adds to a concerning pattern of shark encounters in Australian waters. The country typically records between 15 and 20 shark attacks annually, with most occurring in New South Wales and Western Australia.
The attack is a grim reminder of the dangers present. In September 2025, a 57-year-old surfer, Mercury Psillakis, was killed in a shark attack at Long Reef beach near Dee Why in Sydney. Just a few months later, a Swiss couple was attacked at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, resulting in the woman's death and serious injuries to the man.
The condition of the teenage boy remains critical as medical teams work to treat his severe injuries.
