2 Boys Attacked by Shark in Sydney Within 24 Hours

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Sydney: Two boys were involved in separate shark incidents in Sydney within a 24-hour period, prompting renewed safety warnings as authorities urged people to stay out of the water.

On Monday morning, an 11-year-old surfer narrowly escaped injury after a shark bit his surfboard several times at Dee Why Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches. The shark tore a visible chunk from the middle of the board, but the boy was unharmed and exited the water with other surfers.

Dee Why Beach was closed due to large swells and remained shut following the incident, with drone surveillance deployed to monitor shark activity. Witnesses reported seeing a bull shark measuring up to 1.5 metres in length.

The incident came less than a day after a 13-year-old boy was critically injured in a shark attack at a harbour swimming spot in Vaucluse, in eastern Sydney. The teenager suffered severe injuries to both legs while jumping into the water from rocks with friends on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the boy’s friends acted quickly, with at least one jumping into the water to pull him to safety while others called emergency services. The teenager underwent surgery and remained in critical condition at Randwick Children’s Hospital on Monday.

Authorities believe recent heavy rainfall, which increased freshwater runoff into Sydney Harbour, combined with rough seas and human activity, may have contributed to the attacks. Police and emergency officials have advised the public to avoid swimming in the harbour and nearby river systems.

Shark mitigation measures, including smart drumlines, have been limited due to heavy swell along the New South Wales coast. Officials are working to identify the shark species involved, with initial indications pointing to a bull shark.

The incidents have renewed concerns over shark safety along Sydney’s coastline, which has seen several attacks in recent years, including a fatal incident at Long Reef Beach in September.