A 12-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a large shark attacked him while he was swimming with friends in Sydney Harbour.
They were jumping off a six-metre rock ledge at Shark Beach in Vaucluse when the attack struck on Sunday.
Turning a fun day into a nightmare in seconds.
He suffered critical injuries to both legs and is now in intensive care.
His friends pulled him from the water before help arrived, and police say their quick actions may have saved his life.
“It was a gallant recovery,” said Joseph McNulty, head of New South Wales’ marine command.
“The actions of his mates… have been nothing but brave.”
But how did this happen at a beach called Shark Beach? Despite the name, attacks are rare there.
Shark Risk Heightens
Officials believe heavy rainfall and brackish water created a “perfect storm environment”, drawing sharks closer to shore.
McNulty explained that rain flushes nutrients into rivers and oceans, which can attract sharks.
Authorities suspect a bull shark, one of the most aggressive species in warm, shallow waters.
The scene was described as “horrendous.” Marine police used tourniquets on the boy’s legs and attempted resuscitation as they rushed him to an ambulance.
The incident comes amid a worrying pattern. On Monday, another shark bit off a surfboard at Dee Why Beach.
The 11-year-old surfer escaped uninjured.
Australia has some of the world’s best beaches—and sadly, one of the deadliest shark attack records, with five fatal attacks last year.
So the question remains: when we dive into nature, who’s really in control?
