An Australian boy is in critical condition after being severely bitten by a shark in the middle of Sydney Harbour amid several days of heavy rain, which was a key factor allowing sharks to enter urban areas.
The unexpected incident occurred at a beach in the Wavcluse area, about 9 kilometers from Sydney's central business district, within Sydney Harbour. The boy was jumping into the water from a rock about 6 meters high with friends in the late afternoon when he was suddenly attacked by a shark.
New South Wales police revealed that the recent heavy rainfall caused a large influx of freshwater into the harbour, making the water murky and brackish—conditions preferred by bull sharks.
Police Commander Joseph McNulty stated that the mix of freshwater and brackish water, combined with the vibrations from jumping into the water, may have created the perfect environment for a shark attack to occur.
After being bitten, the boy was pulled out of the water by his friends before emergency personnel arrived. Police took the unconscious boy onto a patrol boat and provided first aid by applying tourniquets to both legs to stop severe bleeding.
Officials performed resuscitation efforts while rushing the boat across the harbour to a pier, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to Sydney Children's Hospital.
The boy is currently being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), with family and friends by his side at all times.
Records show that since 1791, there have been more than 1,280 shark attacks in Australia, with over 250 resulting in fatalities. Currently, Australia averages about 20 shark attacks per year, with fewer than three deaths annually, which remains lower than drowning and other marine accident statistics.
However, scientists warn that rising sea temperatures and increased coastal crowding may alter shark migration patterns and increase the risk of encounters with humans.
Previously, in September, a surfer died after a great white shark attack on a northern Sydney beach, and two months later, a woman was fatally bitten by a bull shark while swimming at a remote northern beach.
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