‘We’re heartbroken’: 12-year-old boy dies after shark attack in Australia

A 12-year-old boy, Nico Antic, has died in hospital after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour, Australia.

Antic’s family confirmed his death via a statement on Saturday, January 24, 2026, after a series of shark attacks along Australia’s east coast.

The boy was attacked last Sunday as he and friends were jumping off rocks in Vaucluse, around 9 km (5.5 miles) from Sydney’s central business district.

He was pulled from the water by friends and taken to the hospital with severe injuries to both legs, Reuters reported.

The family stated: “We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away.

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“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.”

Dozens of beaches, including in Sydney, were closed this week after four shark attacks in two days, as heavy rains left waters murky and more likely to attract the animals.

In September, a surfer was killed by a large shark at Sydney’s Long Reef beach.

Australia averages 20 shark attacks a year, fewer than three of them fatal, according to data from conservation groups. Those numbers are dwarfed by drownings on the country’s beaches.

The Star