Australian boy fighting for life after shark attack, rescued by friends in Sydney Harbor waters
A 12-year-old Australian boy struggled for his life after suffering serious injuries in a shark attack in Sydney Harbour, but survived after his friends jumped off a cliff and dragged him back to shore, authorities said.
The attack took place around 4.20pm on Sunday after the boy jumped from a 20-metre ledge known as Jump Rock, near Shark Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburb of Vaucluse, police said in a statement. Police said the boy suffered severe injuries to both legs from what was believed to be a “large shark”.
His three friends immediately jumped into the water and pulled him to shore, likely saving his life, authorities said.
“The actions of his companions who went into the water to pull him out were simply brave,” said Inspector Joseph McNulty, of New South Wales Police Marine Area Command, describing the injuries as “very confronting” for the young rescuers to witness.
A MINNESOTA WOMAN KILLED IN A SHARK ATTACK IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE USA
Local media reports stated that the child lost both legs in the attack.
“He’s in the fight of his life right now and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance,” said McNulty.
The attack was one of three shark encounters reported in the Sydney area in 24 hours.
SURFER SAYS SHARK ATTACK FELT LIKE ‘I WAS HIT BY A CAR’, HALF OF THE WOOD WAS BITTEN: REPORTS
On Monday evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in the northern suburb of Manly. Police said bystanders pulled him from the water before he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
An 11-year-old boy escaped unharmed after his surfboard was bitten off by a shark at Dee Why Beach, also north of Manly, in the early hours of Monday.
Authorities believe bull sharks may have been responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police said recent heavy rainfall had increased the flow of turbid freshwater into Sydney Harbour, conditions known to increase bull shark activity.
Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, remain closed as a precaution. There are shark nets in all three areas, but officials said it was not immediately clear whether the attacks occurred near those barriers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
