A young musician is fighting for his life in a Sydney hospital after a horrific shark attack at a popular beach, sparking a major emergency response and beach closures across the city's northern shores.
Critical Rescue at North Steyne
Andre de Ruyter, a 27-year-old surfer from Wollongong, remains in a critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital. The attack occurred at approximately 6.20pm on Monday at North Steyne Beach in Manly. Mr de Ruyter was pulled from the water with catastrophic injuries to his lower leg and was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived.
First responders, including surf lifesavers who were nearby undergoing training, administered immediate first aid on the sand. An off-duty NSW Ambulance doctor who was swimming at the beach also rushed to assist. A tourniquet was applied at the scene in a vital move that helped stem the massive blood loss.
Dramatic 'F1 Pit Stop' Blood Delivery
In an extraordinary effort to save his life, emergency services coordinated a high-speed blood transfusion en route to the hospital. NSW Ambulance acting-Superintendent Christie Marks described a dramatic operation where police highway patrol cars met the ambulance. "It was almost like an F1 pit stop of ten seconds," she said, where officers delivered 13 units of blood.
This crucial intervention, along with the swift actions of bystanders and lifesavers, is credited with giving Mr de Ruyter his best chance of survival. He underwent emergency surgery after receiving the significant blood transfusion.
Fourth Attack in 48 Hours Sparks Beach Closures
Shark biologists from the primary industries department believe a bull shark was responsible, based on a 15cm bite mark found on the victim's board. Following the attack, Northern Beaches Council lifeguards immediately sounded alarms, erected warning signs, and dispatched jet skis and drones to patrol the waters.
This incident marked the third shark attack in New South Wales in a short period, before a fourth occurred on Tuesday. A 39-year-old man was bitten on the Mid North Coast at Point Plomer, reportedly after surfers saw four bull sharks in the water. All beaches along the northern beaches were closed as a precaution.
The series of attacks includes an 11-year-old boy bitten at Dee Why Point on Monday morning and a 12-year-old boy attacked at Shark Beach in Vaucluse on Sunday. Bull sharks are suspected in these incidents as well.
Steven Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, praised the rapid response, noting its similarity to the lifesaving efforts during the Bondi attack in December. The collaboration between the public, surf lifesavers, police, and paramedics has been highlighted as a critical factor in the ongoing battle to save Andre de Ruyter's life.
