The family of 12-year-old Nico Antic, who was attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour, are grieving as they prepare for the worst possible outcome. A close family friend, Victor Piñeiro, said the boy had sustained devastating injuries and was fighting for his life after more than 60 hours in hospital.
Antic was bitten on both legs on 18 January while swimming at a harbour beach in Vaucluse, in Sydney's east. He was taken to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick in a critical condition. As of Wednesday morning, the hospital could not provide an update on his condition.
A GoFundMe page set up to support the family has raised more than $100,000. Among the donations and tributes was a message from Kate Barley, whose 15-year-old son Khai Cowley was killed by a shark in South Australia in 2023. “From one mum to another, my heart is holding you so tightly,” she wrote.
Police said Antic was swimming outside the shark net enclosure at Shark Beach, Nielsen Park, when he was attacked. It is believed a bull shark was responsible. His friends rushed to help, with at least one jumping into the water to pull him to safety. Antic was a member of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club's Nippers programme and was awarded most improved for under-11 boys in 2024.
The attack was one of four shark incidents in New South Wales over a few days, thought to be linked to heavy weekend rainfall. Two further attacks occurred on Monday, including a bite on a 27-year-old man at Manly and an incident where an 11-year-old's surfboard was bitten at Dee Why. Nearly 30 Sydney beaches were closed, swimming events were cancelled, and Surf Life Saving NSW urged beachgoers to avoid unsafe beaches or use local pools.
Swimmers at harbour enclosures expressed caution. Retiree Tim Clarke said he could see little in the water at Nielsen Park and described the netted area as “98 per cent safe”. In Double Bay, Norwegian students changed their plans to use the harbour pool. A grandmother visiting Shark Beach said she would go no more than ankle-deep, respecting the sharks' natural environment.
