Beaches in Sydney are on lockdown after three people, including two children, were attacked by sharks in just 26 hours.
The most recent attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly left a surfer in his 20s fighting for his life after he was bitten on the lower leg on Monday.
Earlier the same day, an 11-year-old boy was knocked from his surfboard by a large shark at Dee Why Point, with several bites taken out of his board.
The beach was closed at the time due to dangerous swell, with shark nets set as normal.
The attacks followed another incident on Sunday afternoon at Shark Beach in Vaucluse, where a 12-year-old boy was bitten while swimming with friends at a popular jump rock outside the netted swimming area. His friends helped him to shore.
New footage from the latest attack shows the man being dragged from the water by other beachgoers who performed first aid until paramedics arrived.
First responders treated the man on the sand before he was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
New footage from the latest attack shows the man being dragged from the water by other beachgoers who performed first aid until paramedics arrived
The most recent attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly, left a surfer in his 20s in critical condition after he was bitten on the lower leg at about 6.20pm on Monday
A 15cm bite mark on the board of the surfer involved in the most recent attack suggests he was most likely attacked by a bull shark, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department
‘All beaches on the Northern Beaches are closed until further notice, and this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
A 15cm bite mark on the young surfer’s board suggests he was most likely attacked by a bull shark, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department.
Northern Beaches Council lifeguards sounded the alarm immediately after the attack, then erected shark warning signs and dispatched a jet ski to patrol the water.
Surf Life Saving NSW also launched a drone to assist with locating the shark, but there have been no further sightings.
‘Council lifeguards will continue to patrol for the remainder of the day and tomorrow,’ a Northern Beaches Council spokesperson said.
It’s the third shark attack in Sydney in 26 hours, with experts saying peak season for bull sharks in the Sydney area is January and February.
The other two attacks were also thought to involve bull sharks.
A lifeguards places a sign at Manly Beach, after a man was attacked by a shark in the afternoon, the second attack in Sydney’s northern beaches
Northern Beaches Council lifeguards sounded the alarm immediately after the attack, then erected shark warning signs and dispatched a jet ski to patrol the water
Police on Monday urged people not to swim in murky, low-visibility water after bucketing rain drenched Sydney and its surrounds at the weekend.
Extra fresh water in the harbour after recent heavy rain, combined with the splashing effect from people jumping off a rock face, created a ‘perfect storm’ for Sunday’s shark attack, Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.
‘I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time,’ he told reporters before the Dee Why incident was reported.
Heavy swell has also prevented the operation of smart drumlines, which notify authorities of shark activity along most of the NSW coast since Sunday.
