An Australian child tragically passed away in a hospital following a shark attack in Sydney Harbour, as confirmed by the family on Saturday amidst a string of shark incidents along the east coast of the country.
The victim, identified as Nico Antic, aged 12, fell victim to the shark while engaging in rock jumping with friends in Vaucluse, approximately nine kilometers away from the central business district of Sydney. Following the attack, he was rescued from the water by his companions and rushed to the hospital with severe injuries to both legs.
In a statement, the family expressed their profound sorrow at the loss of their son, Nico, describing him as a cheerful, sociable, and athletic young boy with an exceptionally kind and generous nature. They fondly remembered him as someone who was always brimming with vitality.
Multiple beaches, including those in Sydney, were shut down this week due to a surge in shark-related incidents, with four attacks occurring over a span of two days, likely exacerbated by murky waters caused by heavy rainfall.
The region had recently witnessed another fatal shark attack in September when a surfer lost his life to a large shark at Long Reef beach in Sydney. Despite these tragic events, statistics from conservation groups show that Australia typically records an average of 20 shark encounters annually, with only a small fraction resulting in fatalities, contrasting with a significantly higher number of drownings on the nation’s beaches.
