Rose Bay Secondary College has paid tribute to 12-year-old Nico Antic, who died after a shark attack near Vaucluse in Sydney's east on Saturday. The school organised a community paddle out at North Bondi on Sunday morning in his memory.
Last year, the school asked every student to choose a personal value they wished to be identified by. Nico chose bravery, a choice the school highlighted as telling of his character.
In a statement, the school described Nico as a 'happy, vibrant and social young person' who brought warmth, energy and kindness to those around him. He held the school's under-12 boys' 800m athletics record.
His parents remembered him as a 'happy, friendly and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit'. His rugby club, Easts Junior Beasties, called him fearless and 'forever tough'.
A schoolmate who pulled Nico from the harbour said he was proud of his fight for life, adding: 'He kept fighting and breathing in my arms and he never gave up for a second.'
Nico's death was the first fatal shark attack inside Sydney Harbour in more than 60 years. Following a spate of incidents, an extra $4.2 million was added to NSW beach safety programs, including shark tagging and monitoring, and drone patrols extended to seven days a week.
