A 12-year-old boy, identified as Nico Antic, tragically died after suffering severe injuries from a shark attack near Sydney on January 14, 2024. The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 12, when Nico was bitten on both legs by what authorities believe to be a bull shark while jumping from a rock ledge at a beach in Vaucluse. His parents, Lorena and Juan Antic, confirmed his death in a heartfelt statement.
The attack marked a concerning moment in a week that saw an increase in shark encounters along the New South Wales coast. In the 48 hours leading up to the tragic event, four separate shark incidents were reported, heightening public anxiety about safety at popular beaches. On January 13, a shark bit a boy’s surfboard nearby, while a few miles away, another surfer was bitten on the leg. The following day, a shark knocked a surfer off his board, resulting in hospitalization due to minor injuries.
In response to these events, authorities closed more than a dozen beaches in northern Sydney as a precaution. Shark encounters tend to rise during the summer months, yet attacks remain rare in Australia. Recent scientific analyses indicate that heavy rainfall and warmer temperatures have drawn sharks closer to shore by increasing the availability of prey and nutrients in coastal waters.
Officials from the New South Wales state, where Sydney is located, have urged swimmers and surfers to heed beach closure notices and exercise caution. They recommend staying close to shore, avoiding murky water, and swimming or surfing in groups.
Police received a report at 16:15 on January 12 regarding the attack. Superintendent Joe McNulty, commander of the police force’s Marine Area Command, explained that one of Nico’s friends jumped into the water to assist him. Two other individuals managed to pull Nico onto the shore. Upon arrival, officers found him unconscious and quickly applied two tourniquets to control the bleeding from his legs.
As they transported him by boat to shore, officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.). Upon reaching the beach, paramedics took Nico to a children’s hospital, where he underwent several blood transfusions and surgery. Despite the medical efforts, the young boy succumbed to his injuries on January 14, prompting an outpouring of grief from the community and beyond.
The incident underscores the need for ongoing education about marine safety as authorities continue to monitor shark activity along the coast. As the summer season progresses, officials remain vigilant in their efforts to protect beachgoers while maintaining public awareness of the natural environment.