An Australian boy tragically succumbed to injuries in the hospital following a shark bite in Sydney Harbour, as reported by his family on Saturday amidst a spate of shark incidents along the eastern coast of the country.
Nico Antic, aged 12, fell victim to the attack while engaged in rock jumping with friends 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 wounds on both legs.
Expressing their grief, the family released a statement saying, “We are devastated by the loss of our son, Nico. He was a cheerful, sociable, and athletic young boy with a remarkably kind and giving nature. His zest for life will always be cherished in our memories.”
Following four shark assaults in two days, numerous beaches, including those in Sydney, were shut down this week due to murky waters caused by heavy rainfall that heightened the risk of shark encounters.
In a separate incident in September, a surfer lost his life to a large shark at Long Reef beach in Sydney.
Statistics from conservation organizations reveal that Australia records an average of 20 shark attacks annually, with less than three resulting in fatalities. However, these figures are significantly lower than the number of drownings that occur on the nation’s beaches.