An Australian child passed away in a hospital following a shark bite incident in Sydney Harbour, as reported by the family on Saturday amidst a series of shark encounters along the east coast of the country. The victim, 12-year-old Nico Antic, was attacked while leaping off rocks in Vaucluse, approximately nine kilometers away from Sydney’s downtown area. 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 devastation over the loss of their son, Nico, describing him as a cheerful, sociable, and athletic young boy with a remarkably kind and giving nature. They fondly remembered him as always brimming with vitality.
Following four shark incidents in a span of two days, numerous beaches, including those in Sydney, were shut down this week due to the murky waters caused by heavy rains, which were more likely to attract sharks. Earlier in September, a surfer fell victim to a fatal shark attack at Long Reef beach in Sydney.
Conservation groups report an average of 20 shark attacks per year in Australia, with less than three of them resulting in fatalities. These figures are significantly lower compared to drowning incidents on the nation’s beaches.