There were three shark attacks along Sydney's beaches within less than two days, resulting in at least two people suffering serious injuries.
On Monday, 19 Jan 2026 GMT+7, New South Wales police stated in a release that a man was attacked by a shark at Manly Beach on Monday evening and was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, prompting police to close all beaches indefinitely.
Just a few hours earlier, an 11-year-old boy had to be assisted off Dee Why Beach in Sydney after suspected shark bites to his surfboard, leading the local council to warn swimmers and surfers to exercise extreme caution.
On Sunday afternoon, a 12-year-old boy was taken to hospital in critical condition after being attacked by a large shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour.
Reports say the 12-year-old and his friends were cliff-jumping from a six-meter-high rock into the water at Shark Beach, a popular swimming spot in the Vaucluse suburb of Sydney, when the attack occurred.
Friends pulled the boy from the water before rescue teams arrived; police said their quick actions likely saved his life. He remains in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Joseph McNulty, Commander of the Maritime Area Command, told reporters that when water police arrived, they encountered a "horrifying scene." They lifted the boy onto a police speedboat and applied tourniquets to both his legs to stop the bleeding.
Officials also attempted CPR to save the boy’s life while the boat sped toward the harbor, where an ambulance was waiting.
Authorities believe the 12-year-old was attacked by a bull shark, a fierce species commonly found in warm, shallow waters. Experts consider bull sharks among the most dangerous shark species globally.
McNulty suggested that heavy rainfall over the weekend and brackish water conditions may have created an environment conducive to shark attacks, leading to Sunday's incident. Rainwater washes nutrients into rivers and oceans, attracting sharks closer to shore.
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Source:bbc