A 12-year-old boy is facing a critical 'fight for his life' after being mauled by a large shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon, prompting urgent warnings from authorities.
Quick-Thinking Friends Praised for 'Brave' Rescue
The incident occurred at approximately 4.20pm on Sunday near Nielsen Park in the suburb of Vaucluse. The boy was reportedly jumping off a popular rock ledge at Shark Beach with a group of friends when the animal, believed to be a bull shark, struck.
In a remarkable display of courage, the boy's friends, all of a similar age, rushed to his aid. At least one of them entered the water to pull the severely injured victim to safety. Superintendent Joe McNulty, commander of the NSW Police Marine Area Command, hailed their actions as 'nothing but brave'.
Emergency Services Mount 'Textbook' Lifesaving Response
A nearby police speedboat reached the scene within minutes. Officers immediately applied a double tourniquet to both of the boy's legs to stem the life-threatening bleeding. They then administered CPR as he was transported by boat to Rose Bay, where waiting ambulance paramedics took over his care.
'It was a textbook recovery to give this boy a fighting chance for survival,' Superintendent McNulty stated. 'He's in for the fight of his life now and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance.' Inspector Giles Buchanan of NSW Ambulance confirmed the tourniquet was a 'definitely a life-saving intervention'.
The boy, who suffered critical injuries to both legs, was unconscious upon the arrival of emergency crews and had to be intubated. He remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Poor Water Visibility After Rain a 'Perfect Storm' Factor
Police and marine experts have pointed to environmental conditions as a likely factor in the rare harbour attack. Following a weekend of heavy rain, the water in the brackish harbour—a mix of salt and freshwater—was murky with poor visibility.
Superintendent McNulty suggested the combination of low water quality and the splashing from people jumping off the rocks may have created a 'perfect storm environment for the shark attack'. He issued a clear warning: 'I would recommend not swimming there right now. It's not a good time to swim.'
In response to the incident, the NSW Department of Primary Industries has kept beaches in the vicinity, including Shark Beach at Nielsen Park, closed until further notice. The public is urged to follow the official @NSWSharkSmart alerts for updates.
