SYDNEY, Australia – A series of three shark attacks within 24 hours has left multiple victims critically injured and prompted the immediate closure of Sydney’s northern beaches. The unprecedented cluster of incidents has raised serious concerns about marine safety along Australia’s Pacific coastline.
The most recent attack occurred Monday evening at North Steyne Beach in Manly, where a surfer in his 20s sustained severe leg injuries after being bitten by a shark. Bystanders heroically pulled the victim from the water before emergency services transported him to a hospital in critical condition.
Earlier on Sunday, a 12-year-old boy suffered catastrophic injuries to both legs after jumping from a 6-meter high ledge known as Jump Rock near Shark Beach in Vaucluse. Police officials have credited the victim’s three friends with saving his life by courageously jumping into the water during the attack and dragging him to safety. News reports indicate the boy may have lost both legs in the horrific encounter.
Superintendent Joseph McNulty praised the teenagers’ bravery, stating: ‘The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave. These young men demonstrated extraordinary courage under circumstances involving confronting injuries.’
A third incident occurred Monday noon when an 11-year-old boy narrowly escaped injury after a shark bit a chunk from his surfboard at Dee Why Beach, north of Manly. The boy emerged physically unharmed from the encounter.
Authorities have implemented immediate safety measures, closing all northern beaches including North Steyne and Dee Why until further notice. While all three beaches feature some form of shark protection netting, the exact locations of the attacks in relation to these barriers remain unclear.
Marine experts suspect bull sharks are responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police had previously warned that recent heavy rainfall over Sydney has increased fresh and murky water in the harbor, creating ideal conditions for bull shark activity. The area has experienced previous shark-related tragedies, including the death of a 57-year-old surfer at nearby Ocean Reef Beach last September and a fatal attack on a Swiss tourist in November.