Teenage Boy Critical After Shark Attack At Sydney Harbour Beach

Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 16:13 IST

A 13-year-old boy was critically injured in a shark attack at Shark Beach, Vaucluse, Sydney Harbour. Police urge swimmers to avoid nearby waters after the incident.

A 13-year-old boy was critically injured in a shark attack at Shark Beach, Vaucluse, Sydney Harbour. Police urge swimmers to avoid nearby waters after the incident. (AI Image)

A teenage boy was left fighting for his life after being mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The attack occurred off Shark Beach in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, where the boy, believed to be around 13 years old, was bitten while in the water. New South Wales Police said the injuries were consistent with an attack by a large shark.

Officers were alerted to the incident shortly after it happened and managed to pull the teenager from the water within minutes. He was treated on board a police vessel for serious leg injuries, with officers applying two tourniquets to stem heavy bleeding.

Paramedics later rushed the boy to Sydney Children’s Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Following the incident, police urged the public to stay out of the water in the surrounding areas. “Swimmers are advised to avoid entering nearby waters at this time," authorities said.

Australia has recorded more than 1,280 shark incidents since 1791, with over 250 proving fatal, according to national data. Scientists say factors such as rising ocean temperatures and increasingly crowded coastal waters may be influencing shark behaviour and migratory patterns, potentially increasing encounters with humans.

Sydney has seen deadly shark attacks in recent years. In September last year, a great white shark killed surfer Mercury Psillakis at a popular northern Sydney beach. Two months later, a woman was fatally attacked by a bull shark while swimming at a remote beach north of the city.

-With inputs from agencies

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