A 12-year-old boy has died in hospital after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour, his family has confirmed. Nico Antic was bitten on both legs on 18 January at a harbour beach in Vaucluse, in Sydney's east.
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 the shark net enclosure near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park when a bull shark attacked him. Friends rushed to assist, with one pulling him to safety.
A GoFundMe page raised nearly $240,000 for the family. Tributes included one from Kate Barley, mother of Khai Cowley, a 15-year-old killed by a shark in 2023. The incident was the first of four shark bites on the New South Wales coast in 48 hours, leading to beach closures and cancelled swimming events.
