12-Year-Old In Critical Condition After Shark Attack In Sydney Harbour

Around 4:30 p.m. today, a 12-year-old boy was attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour, just off Jump Rock, near Nielson Park in Vaucluse. Nielson’s is a novelty-ish spot, only breaking when the open beaches are massive, and offers both netted and non-netted swimming areas.

NSW Police and Marine Area Command officers pulled the boy from the water, ferrying him by boat to Rose Bay Wharf, as reported by news.com.au.

Five other kids were with the boy when it happened, scrambling to help him before emergency services arrived. Officers were later seen comforting the shaken group near the beach entrance.

NSW Ambulance paramedics and police scrambled to stabilise the boy, tourniquets applied, CPR at one point, all while working under a blue tent for over an hour. When they finally moved him, he was in critical condition, both legs torn up, and he was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick.

The species of shark hasn’t been confirmed, but if you listen to locals, Sydney Harbour has long been a known haunt for Bull sharks, drawn to the murky waters. 

As shark attacks appear to be climbing disconcertingly high, especially along the east coast of Australia, you’d be forgiven for thinking the rivers might offer some refuge. That theory, however, is all but dead. Just last week, a surfer in the Tweed River on the Gold Coast caught a Great White on his GoPro, lurking beneath the surface near a novelty wave.

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“You could clearly see the jagged edge of the fin. I thought, ‘Holy crap, that’s definitely a White,’ so I hit record,” said the surfer.

Neilson Park beach is closed. Swimmers and surfers have been advised to keep out of the water. Our thoughts are with the young boy. More information as it comes.