Sydney Harbour Shark Attack: 12‑Year‑Old Dies

On 24 January 2026, 12‑year‑old Nico Antic was fatally injured after a shark attacked him while jumping off rocks in Vaucluse, five miles from Sydney’s CBD. Antic was rescued by friends and taken to hospital with severe injuries to both legs, but died from his wounds the next day. His death follows a spate of shark incidents along Australia’s east coast, with four attacks recorded in two days and roughly 20 yearly, of which fewer than three are fatal, according to conservation groups. Heavy rainfall made the harbour waters murky, increasing shark activity. Beaches in Sydney and surrounding areas were closed amid the attacks. Antic’s family released a heart‑broken statement describing him as "happy, friendly, and sporty".