A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition following a shark attack at a beach in Sydney. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, when the boy was reportedly jumping on rocks near Sydney Harbour. According to authorities, he was mauled by a large shark as he played in the water.
Heroic actions by a friend, who jumped into the water to assist, played a crucial role in the boy’s survival. Two other friends helped drag him back onto the rocky platform, demonstrating remarkable bravery in a distressing situation. New South Wales Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty praised the young men for their quick thinking and courage, stating, “Those young men are brave under those circumstances,” and noted the traumatic nature of the injuries they witnessed.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with a police boat arriving minutes later. Officers applied two tourniquets to the boy’s legs as they performed CPR, working urgently to stabilize him for transport to medical care. “The boy had lost his pulse. There was a large blood loss, and the double tourniquet stemmed that flow of blood loss yesterday and has contributed to saving his life,” McNulty explained.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with officers arriving at the wharf covered in blood. NSW Ambulance Inspector Giles Buchanan provided further details, stating that medical teams would have intubated the boy to assist with breathing and would have administered a blood transfusion en route to the hospital. “It was touch and go the entire time,” Buchanan remarked, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Following his transfer to the hospital, the boy underwent surgery overnight. Local officials are now investigating the species of shark involved in the attack, with speculation pointing to a bull shark, known to frequent the waters of Sydney Harbour, particularly between January and February. McNulty noted, “The combination of the brackish water, the fresh water, the actions of the splashing, may have made that perfect storm environment for that shark attack.”
As authorities continue to gather information, the community remains hopeful for the boy’s recovery, with many expressing gratitude for the swift actions of his friends and emergency responders.
