Nico Antic, 12, who was recently attacked by a shark off the coast of Sydney, is still alive, according to his family, but his condition is irreversible and he will never recover. The boy was probably attacked by a bull shark at approximately 4:20 p.m. in the Nielsen Park area when he jumped from the rocks into the water. The rescuers on the spot used tourniquets and performed resuscitation, then they rushed him to the hospital, he writes.
After initial reports claimed the boy had succumbed to his injuries, a family member confirmed Nico was still alive but his brain was unresponsive. “He’s still asleep, but he won’t survive because his brain is completely unresponsive,” the relative said. His family described him as a talented athlete who “could always put a smile on people’s faces” and was “loved by many friends and family”.
A fundraiser was launched to help the family, set up by a family friend, Victor. Paccording to the appeal, the funds are intended to help cover the costs associated with treatment and subsequent expenses after a tragic event. Nico worked for seven years in the soccer club Goal Soccer Academy. He described him as a “talented and dedicated player”. The club stated that the boy also represented the team at tournaments including the Sydney International Cup.
The attack on Nico is part of a series of four serious shark encounters in 48 hours along the New South Wales coast. The incidents led to the closure of beaches and the issuance of urgent warnings for people not to enter the ocean.
The latest attack took place near Port Macquarie, where a surfer (39) was injured by a shark when it bit his board. The man suffered only minor injuries and was released after treatment. Monday morning a boy (11) was knocked into the water after a shark bit off parts of his surfboard. It was the evening of the same day musician Andre de Ruyter (27) seriously injured, where he suffered leg injuries.
Surf Life Saving NSW Chief Executive Steven Pearce has issued a stark warning following the closure of Sydney’s northern beaches. “If anyone is thinking of going surfing anywhere on the northern beaches today, think again. We have very poor water quality which encourages bull shark activity. Better go to the local pool, the beaches are dangerous at the moment,” he said.
