Man and boy critical after 3 shark attacks off Sydney in just over 24 hours

A wave of shark attacks has rocked Sydney’s coastal communities, with three separate incidents occurring in just over 24 hours, leaving a man and a young boy in critical condition.

The most recent attack took place Monday evening at North Steyne Beach in Manly, where a surfer in his 20s suffered severe leg injuries when a shark struck at approximately 6:20 p.m. local time. Quick-thinking bystanders pulled the victim from the water before emergency services arrived. Paramedics transported him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

This attack came less than 30 hours after a 12-year-old boy experienced a harrowing encounter with what authorities believe was a bull shark. The incident occurred Sunday near Shark Beach in Sydney Harbor’s eastern suburb of Vaucluse, when the boy jumped from a six-meter high ledge known locally as Jump Rock.

Superintendent Joseph McNulty praised the extraordinary bravery of the boy’s three friends, who jumped into the water during the attack and dragged him back to shore. “The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave,” McNulty told reporters. “Those actions of those young men are brave under the circumstances and very confronting injuries for those boys to see.” Local media reports indicate the 12-year-old lost both legs in the attack.

In a third incident Monday around noon, an 11-year-old boy escaped physical injury when a shark attacked his surfboard at Dee Why Beach, north of Manly. While the predator bit off a chunk of the board, the young surfer managed to escape unharmed.

Local authorities have closed Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, indefinitely as they assess the situation. The string of attacks has raised questions about the effectiveness of shark protection measures, as all three beaches where the incidents occurred reportedly have some form of shark protection netting in place. Officials have not yet clarified the attacks’ proximity to these protective barriers.

Marine experts believe bull sharks are the likely culprits in at least the first two attacks. Police had issued warnings following Sunday’s initial incident, noting that recent heavy rainfall over Sydney had increased the volume of fresh and murky water inside the harbor, creating ideal conditions for bull sharks, which are known to thrive in such environments.

The cluster of attacks comes against the backdrop of previous fatal shark encounters in the region. Dee Why Beach sits close to Ocean Reef Beach, where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected white shark just last September. In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist died while swimming off a national park north of Sydney, and her partner sustained serious injuries while attempting to save her.

These incidents represent an unusual concentration of shark activity in the area, raising concerns among local residents and beach authorities alike. Bull sharks, which can survive in both saltwater and freshwater environments, are among the most dangerous shark species to humans due to their aggressive nature and tendency to hunt in shallow coastal waters.

Sydney’s beaches are popular year-round destinations for both locals and tourists, with swimming, surfing, and other water activities forming an integral part of the city’s coastal lifestyle. The recent attacks may prompt a review of existing safety protocols and shark mitigation strategies along Sydney’s extensive coastline.

Authorities are urging beachgoers to remain vigilant, heed all beach closures, and follow safety guidelines while investigations into these incidents continue.