A 12-year-old boy has died in hospital after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour last weekend, his family has confirmed. Nico Antic was bitten on both legs at a harbour beach in Vaucluse on 18 January and had been in a critical condition since.
In a statement on Saturday, his parents Lorena and Juan said: 'We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away. Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit.' They thanked first responders and staff at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.
Nico was a member of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club's Nippers program and was awarded most improved for under-11 boys in 2024. He was swimming outside a shark net near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park when a bull shark attacked him. Friends rushed to help, with one pulling him to safety.
A GoFundMe raised nearly $240,000 for the family. Tributes included one from Kate Barley, whose son Khai Cowley was killed by a shark in 2023. The attack was the first of four shark bites on the New South Wales coast in 48 hours, with experts linking the spike to intense rainfall.
