A talented young footballer is fighting for his life in hospital after a horrific shark attack in Sydney Harbour, the first in a spate of incidents along the New South Wales coast.
Catastrophic injuries in harbour attack
Nico Antic, aged 12, was enjoying an afternoon with five friends at Nielsen Park in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Sunday. The group were jumping from a rock ledge about six metres high into the water at approximately 4.20pm when the suspected bull shark struck.
Both of the boy's legs were severely mauled in the sudden and violent attack. His survival is credited to the quick thinking of one friend, who bravely leapt into the water to drag the injured Nico onto a rock platform as the predator remained nearby.
Loved ones have since confirmed the young sportsman sustained catastrophic, life-threatening injuries. Family friend Victor Pineiro established a fundraiser on Tuesday to assist the family with mounting expenses, describing the incident as a parent's "worst nightmare".
A talented sportsman and community support
Nico has been identified as a dedicated and gifted footballer, having played with the Goal Soccer Academy in Rose Bay for seven years. The club paid tribute to him on social media, noting he had represented them in prestigious tournaments, including the Sydney International Cup.
The community has rallied around the family, with friends sharing the fundraiser link online. One friend, Trish, posted on Facebook simply stating, "My heart hurts," while another urged donations for a family facing an "unimaginably hard time".
New South Wales Police confirmed to media that Nico was alive and receiving hospital treatment as of Tuesday afternoon.
A spate of attacks and safety warnings
Nico's ordeal marked the beginning of a concerning series of shark encounters along the NSW coastline over a 72-hour period.
On Monday, an 11-year-old boy had a lucky escape at Dee Why beach when a shark bit a large chunk from his surfboard. Later that same evening, a 27-year-old man from Wollongong was attacked by a bull shark while surfing at Manly, sustaining critical leg injuries.
The incidents continued on Tuesday when a 39-year-old man was bitten at Point Plomer on the Mid North Coast. The shark tore through his wetsuit and damaged his surfboard before he drove himself to Kempsey District Hospital.
Authorities have linked the increased risk to recent heavy rainfall. Superintendent Joseph McNulty explained that extra fresh water in the harbour, combined with the splashing from people jumping, created a 'perfect storm' for Sunday's attack.
Police are now urging the public to avoid swimming in murky, low-visibility water. "I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time," Supt McNulty advised. Heavy swells have also hampered the operation of smart drumlines used to monitor shark activity.
