A 12-year-old boy and a man are fighting for their lives following a spate of three separate shark attacks in Sydney over two days, with officials pointing to recent heavy rainfall as a key factor.
Three Attacks in 48 Hours
The first and most serious incident occurred late on Sunday afternoon at Shark Beach in Vaucluse. A 12-year-old boy was jumping off rocks with friends when he was bitten, sustaining severe injuries to both legs. He was pulled from the water by his friends and later by emergency services.
"He's in for the fight of his life now, and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance," New South Wales Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty told reporters.
On Monday, two further incidents were reported by local media. A surfer was critically injured after being bitten on the leg off North Steyne Beach in Manly. He was rescued by a group of people who pulled him onto the sand.
In a separate but related event, an 11-year-old boy had a narrow escape off Dee Why Beach when a shark bit his surfboard. The child, assisted by lifesavers, was left unscathed.
Heavy Rain Creates 'Perfect Storm' for Bull Sharks
Authorities believe the unusual weather is to blame for the dangerous situation. Days of heavy rain have filled Sydney Harbour with fresh water, creating brackish conditions that are ideal for bull sharks.
Analysis of a 15cm chunk bite mark taken from the surfboard confirmed the likely culprit was a bull shark. Superintendent McNulty elaborated, stating, "We believe 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 yesterday."
Emergency Response and Beach Safety
In response to the attacks, local councils and surf lifesaving services have stepped up patrols and warnings. The Northern Beaches Council installed shark warning signs and deployed a jet ski to patrol waters.
Furthermore, New South Wales Surf Life Saving launched a drone to monitor for sharks, urging swimmers to stay close to shore and heed all safety advice.
While shocking, fatal shark attacks in Australia remain relatively rare. The country sees around 20 shark attacks per year, with fewer than three typically being fatal—a number dwarfed by coastal drownings and other beach accidents.
