Boy dies days after Sydney Harbour shark attack
A 12-year-old boy bitten by a shark in Australia’s Sydney Harbour has died from his injuries, his family confirmed on Saturday.
The victim, Nico Antic, was attacked last week while swimming with friends in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, where the children had been jumping into the water from a six-metre rock.
Family confirms death
In a statement, Nico’s parents, Lorena and Juan Antic, said their son died after days of critical medical care.
“We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away,” the statement read.
“Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life and that’s how we’ll remember him.”
Attack occurred in murky water
Police said recent heavy rainfall had washed runoff into the harbour, reducing visibility and making the water murky at the time of the attack.
Nico suffered severe bleeding and was pulled from the water by police before being rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Series of attacks prompts beach closures
The incident was one of four shark attacks recorded in Sydney within two days, prompting authorities to close dozens of beaches across the city as a safety precaution.
It marked Sydney’s third shark-related death in recent months.
In September, surfer Mercury Psillakis was killed by a great white shark at a popular northern Sydney beach. Two months later, a woman was killed by a bull shark while swimming at a remote beach north of the city.
Scientists point to changing conditions
Australian scientists say rising ocean temperatures and increasingly crowded coastal waters may be altering shark migration patterns, contributing to the recent increase in attacks.
Authorities have continued monitoring beaches and advising the public to exercise caution as investigations continue.
