A man is in a critical condition following a shark bite at Manly beach in Sydney's north on Monday evening, marking the third such incident to hit the city's coastline in just two days.
A Spate of Attacks on Sydney Beaches
Emergency services confirmed they treated the critically injured man at the scene with intensive care paramedics. A rescue helicopter was also deployed over the popular beach as part of the response. This serious attack comes amidst a cluster of frightening encounters with sharks in the region.
Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old surfer had his board bitten multiple times by a shark at Dee Why beach, just a few kilometres from Manly. The young surfer was unharmed and was helped from the water by others. Analysis of the 15cm bite marks on his board by shark biologists suggests the likely culprit was a bull shark.
This followed an attack on Sunday afternoon in which a 13-year-old boy was bitten on both legs while swimming at a rock face in Vaucluse, in Sydney's east. That teenager remains in a critical condition in Randwick children's hospital after undergoing surgery. His friends bravely pulled him from the water after the attack.
Safety Response and Environmental Factors
In response to the Dee Why incident, Northern Beaches council lifeguards immediately erected warning signs, dispatched a jetski, and closed the beach for at least 24 hours. Surf Life Saving NSW launched a drone to assist, though there have been no further sightings.
Authorities have pointed to specific environmental conditions increasing the risk. Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty stated that extra fresh water in the harbour from recent heavy rain, combined with the splashing of people jumping into the water, created a "perfect storm" for Sunday's attack. He urged people to avoid swimming in murky harbour and river systems.
Furthermore, heavy swells have prevented the operation of smart drumlines along much of the NSW coast since Sunday, hampering shark monitoring efforts. The shark net at Dee Why had been set as normal, but the beach was closed at the time of the attack due to dangerous surf conditions.
A Grim Context and Official Warnings
This recent spate of incidents occurs not far from where 57-year-old surfer Mercury Psillakis was fatally mauled by a shark at Long Reef beach in September 2024. That tragedy led the state government to halt a trial removal of shark nets.
With multiple swimmers attacked in Sydney Harbour in recent years, including a woman bitten at Elizabeth Bay in early 2024, the issue remains a pressing concern for residents and officials. The primary industries department is working to identify the species involved in the latest attacks.
Police continue to urge extreme caution, recommending the public avoid swimming in low-visibility water and be aware of the heightened risks following periods of heavy rainfall and in areas with significant freshwater inflow.
