3 days ago
12
A 12-year-old boy has died in hospital after being mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour last weekend, his family has confirmed.
The boy, named as Nico Antic in an online fundraiser, had been fighting for his life after being bitten on both legs on 18 January at a harbour beach in Vaucluse, in Sydney’s east.
In a statement on Saturday his parents, Lorena and Juan, confirmed their son had succumbed to his injuries.
“We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away,” they said in a joint statement.
“Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life and that’s how we’ll remember him.
“We would like to sincerely thank the first responders and the teams at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick for everything they did to care for Nico.
“We would also like to thank everyone in the community for their support and kind messages.”
Antic had been in a critical condition since he arrived at the hospital on 18 January.
A GoFundMe had raised nearly $240,000 for Nico’s family as of Saturday afternoon, with tributes including from Kate Barley, mother of Khai Cowley, a 15-year-old killed by a shark in 2023.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
“From one mum to another, my heart is holding you so tightly,” Barley’s comment from earlier this week read.
“I lost my beautiful boy Khai in a shark attack in South Australia — he was only 15 — and I know how unbearable this waiting and fear can be. Your precious boy is in our thoughts and prayers, and your family is being held with deep love and strength right now.”
Antic was part of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club in the Nippers program and was awarded most improved for under-11 boys in 2024.
He had been swimming near Shark beach at Nielsen park when he was attacked. His friends rushed to assist him, with at least one jumping into the water to pull him to safety, Supt Joe McNulty of NSW police’s marine area command, said on Monday.
It is believed a bull shark attacked Antic while he was swimming outside the shark net enclosure.
The incident was the first of four shark bites on the New South Wales coast in 48 hours.
On Monday, an 11-year-old’s surfboard was bitten at Dee Why, and a 27-year-old man was bitten while surfing in Manly.
On Tuesday morning a 39-year-old man was bitten at Point Plomer on the state’s mid-north coast, about five hours’ north of Sydney.
Experts have linked the spike in activity to intense rainfall, which flushed dirty water on to the coast and beaches.
Nearly 30 Sydney beaches were closed in the wake of the attacks, swimming events cancelled and experienced surfers are afraid to return to the water.
All beaches reopened ahead of the long weekend – however Manly beach was closed again on Saturday after a shark sighting.
