Sydney Sees Three Shark Attacks In Just Over 24 Hours, Two Critically Injured

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 01:36 IST

A man and a 12-year-old boy were critically injured in separate incidents, while another child escaped unhurt after his surfboard was bitten.

People stand next to warning signs in place, and beaches are closed after a surfer suffered a shark attack today at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, Australia. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Sydney reported three separate shark attacks in just over 24 hours, leaving a man and a boy critically injured and another child narrowly escaping harm, according to police.

Officials suspect bull sharks were responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police had earlier warned that heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater flow into Sydney Harbour, raising the risk of bull shark activity, the Associated Press reported.

In the latest incident on Monday evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in the northern suburb of Manly. The attack occurred around 6.20 pm local time. Police said bystanders pulled the man from the water before he was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The second incident took place on Sunday inside Sydney Harbour at Shark Beach in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse. A 12-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to both legs after jumping from a six-metre ledge known as Jump Rock. Police credited the boy’s three friends with saving his life by jumping into the water during the attack and dragging him back to shore.

“The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave," Superintendent Joseph McNulty told reporters, adding that the injuries were confronting for the children who witnessed the attack. Australian media reported that the boy lost both legs.

Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was on a surfboard at Dee Why Beach, north of Manly, when a shark bit into the board. The shark tore off a chunk of the surfboard, but the boy escaped without injury.

Authorities said Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, would remain closed until further notice. All three locations where the attacks occurred have some form of shark protection netting, though it was not immediately clear whether the incidents took place inside or outside the protected zones.

Officials suspect bull sharks were responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police had earlier warned that heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater flow into Sydney Harbour, raising the risk of bull shark activity.

Dee Why Beach is close to Ocean Reef Beach, where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected white shark last September. In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed and her partner seriously injured during another shark attack north of Sydney.

News world Sydney Sees Three Shark Attacks In Just Over 24 Hours, Two Critically Injured

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