Shocking new details emerge about shark attack in Sydney Harbour - as boy, 12, fights for his life in hospital
- Young boy remains fighting for life after horror attack
- Authorities say heavy rainfall contributed to attack
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Authorities have revealed that heavy rainfall may have been a contributing factor in a horrific shark attack that left a young boy fighting for life.
The 12-year-old boy was swimming with five friends at the western end of Nielsen Park in Sydney's eastern suburbs at 4.20pm on Sunday.
The park includes Shark Beach, where swimmers can access both netted and open swimming areas in Sydney Harbour.
It's understood the boy was jumping off a six-metre-high rock ledge known as 'jump rock' - where there are no nets - when he was attacked by a bull shark.
He suffered severe leg injuries, and remains in intensive care on Monday morning.
NSW Police said heavy rainfall over the weekend, along with splashing caused by jumping, may have created the 'perfect storm environment' for the attack to occur.
'The water yesterday was extremely brackish due to the heavy rain Sydney has experienced over the weekend,' Marine Area Commander Superintendent Joe McNulty said.
'They were jumping into muddy water, and we believe a shark was in the vicinity.'
The young boy remains in a critical condition after both his legs were mauled in the attack
Superintendent McNulty revealed how the 12-year-old boy's friends helped save him.
'One of the boy's mates jumped in to pull him from the water to the rock platform, which also helped save his life,' he said.
'CPR was performed on the rock shelf and again on the boat. Combined with the tourniquets, we believe this prevented catastrophic blood loss.
'He's in for the fight of his life.
'He's undergone operations throughout the night at the Children's Hospital at Randwick. He's now in critical condition and with his parents.'
Superintendent McNulty said the boy's friends were 'extremely brave' and that police were on scene within five minutes after receiving triple-zero calls from horrified onlookers.
'The police boat behind me, a new addition to our fleet, was able to manoeuvre directly up to the rock platform,' he said.
'Senior Constable John Morris jumped off the vessel carrying two tourniquets, which were immediately applied to severe leg injuries.
Bull sharks are common in Sydney Harbour - the last known attack in the area was in 2024
Paramedics treated the boy for more than a hour before he was taken to hospital
'From what we believe, a large shark bit both of the boy's legs. The double tourniquets were applied on the rock shelf, assisted by Eastern Suburbs police, and they stemmed the bleeding, giving the boy a fighting chance.
'He was immediately evacuated onto the bow of the police boat. We couldn't wait for an ambulance due to how critical his condition was. The boat travelled at high speed across the bay to Rose Bay, where NSW Ambulance was waiting.'
Superintendent McNulty added: 'He was taken straight from the bow of the vessel into paramedics' care. That immediate, coordinated response made a significant difference.'
The boy was transported by road ambulance to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick at about 6pm.
While paramedics worked to save the boy's life, detectives arrived at the scene and cordoned off the rock ledge where the children had been jumping.
Water police then began a search for the shark involved in the attack and advised other swimmers not to enter the water.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said authorities are working to determine the species of shark involved in the attack.
Superintendent Joe McNulty said the 'combination of the brackish water, the fresh water, the actions of the splashing, may have made that perfect storm environment' for the shark attack
Police officers could be seen consoling distressed children near the entrance to the beach
Police then searched for the shark involved in the attack, which is believed to be a bull shark
The attack is believed to be the fourth in Sydney Harbour in over 50 years.
Lauren O'Neill was bitten on the leg while swimming at Elizabeth Bay in early 2024 - a few kilometres west of Nielsen Park.
Ms O'Neill had jumped off a jetty when she was attacked and was forced to undergo surgery to save her leg.
In 2009, navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder suffered catastrophic injuries when he was attacked by a bull shark during a counter-terrorism exercise in Sydney Harbour and lost a hand and part of one of his legs.
In 1963, actress Marcia Hathaway was killed by a bull shark as she swam in the shallows of Sugarloaf Bay near Castle Cove.
