A 12-year-old Australian boy has died in hospital after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour. His family announced this on January 24, amid heightened concern following a spate of shark attacks along Australia’s east coast.
Nico Antic was attacked on January 18 while jumping off rocks with friends in the Vaucluse area, about 9 km from Sydney’s central business district. He was pulled from the water by his friends and rushed to hospital with critical injuries to both legs.
In a statement, the family said they were devastated by his death. They described Nico as a cheerful, friendly and sporty boy with a kind and generous nature, adding that he was always full of life.
The incident came as dozens of beaches, including several in Sydney, were closed this week after four shark attacks occurred within two days. Authorities said heavy rainfall had made the water murky, increasing the likelihood of sharks moving closer to shore.
Australia records an average of about 20 shark attacks each year, with fewer than three resulting in fatalities, according to conservation groups. These figures remain far lower than the number of drowning deaths on the country’s beaches.
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