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12-Year-Old Boy Fighting for Life After Rare Shark Attack in Sydney Harbour
MLN — 19 JAN 2026: A 12-year-old boy in Australia remains in critical condition after being attacked by a shark while swimming with friends at Shark Beach in Sydney Harbor, authorities said. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Vaucluse suburb, a popular recreational area known for calm waters as Reported the BBC News
Police said the boy and several friends had been jumping from a six-metre rock ledge into the water when the attack happened. He suffered severe injuries to both legs and was pulled unconscious from the water by his friends, whose quick actions were credited with saving his life, according to emergency officials.
Marine police described arriving at what they called an extremely serious scene. Officers used tourniquets to stem heavy bleeding and attempted resuscitation as the boy was transported by speedboat to a nearby wharf, where paramedics took over and rushed him to hospital. He remains under intensive care.
New South Wales Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty praised the group of young swimmers for their bravery, saying their response gave the injured boy a chance to survive. State Premier Chris Minns also commended the teenagers, calling their actions courageous under pressure.
Authorities believe the attack was carried out by a bull shark, a species known to inhabit warm, shallow and sometimes brackish waters.
Officials said heavy rainfall over the weekend may have contributed to conditions that draw sharks closer to shore, as runoff can carry nutrients into coastal waters.
Shark Beach, despite its name, is not considered a high-risk location and attacks in Sydney Harbour are rare. As a precaution, nearby beaches were monitored following the incident.
Police also confirmed that a separate shark encounter occurred on Monday at Dee Why Beach, where a shark damaged a surfboard. An 11-year-old surfer was assisted from the water without injury.
Australia records some of the highest numbers of shark encounters globally, though fatal incidents remain uncommon.
