January 24, 2026, 2:33 p.mJanuary 24, 2026, 2:33 p.m
A 12-year-old has died as a result of his serious injuries almost a week after a shark attack in Sydney. “Our hearts are broken,” Australian media quoted the parents as saying. After several shark attacks within a short period of time, concerns are growing in and around Sydney on the beaches, which are also popular with tourists.
Seriously injured in legs
The boy was bitten by a shark last Sunday near the Shark Beach section in the east of the metropolis and was seriously injured in both legs. His friends jumped into the water to get him to safety, 9News reported.
But the boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition after the attack. There he fought for his life for days. According to reports, authorities believe a bull shark may have attacked the child.
Their son was “a happy, friendly and sporty boy with an extremely kind and generous nature,” Australian media continued to quote the parents’ statement. “He was always full of joy for life, and that’s how we will remember him.”
More shark attacks – Sydney on alert
According to media reports, there were four attacks in just two days in the Australian state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney. A man was attacked on the famous Manly Beach and seriously injured in one leg. His condition remains critical, reports the station 9News.
A shark is also said to have knocked an eleven-year-old off his surfboard nearby on Dee Why Beach. While the child miraculously escaped unharmed, the predatory fish bit a large piece out of the board. Another attack occurred in Point Plomer. Several beaches in the region were temporarily closed.
Ideal conditions for bull sharks
Bull shark activity increases off the coast of Sydney during the warmer months, experts say. It’s summer in Australia right now. Climate change is also extending the time that swimmers and surfers are at increased risk, as rising water temperatures keep the animals closer to shore for longer. Other possible factors include heavy rainfall, which clouds the water and creates ideal hunting conditions for bull sharks.
According to official data from 2025, there have been an average of around 20 shark incidents per year in Australia with injuries over the past ten years. On average, 2.8 deaths were registered annually.
In November, a Swiss woman was probably fatally injured by a bull shark on Australia’s east coast. In September, a surfer died in an attack in a Sydney suburb. Three species native to the region are particularly dangerous to humans: tiger sharks, bull sharks and great white sharks. (sda/dpa)