Shark attack at Nielsen Park in Sydney's east leaves boy fighting for his life

"A boy has been attacked by a shark in Sydney's east and is in a critical condition after suffering serious injuries to both legs. The boy, believed to be aged about 12, was pulled from the water at Shark beach at Neilsen Park, in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse, on Sunday afternoon. He was treated at the scene by first responders with tourniquets, New South Wales police said. Emergency services were first called to the harbourside beach at about 4.20pm, police said."

"Intensive care and aeromedical units, including the CareFlight helicopters, also responded, NSW Ambulance said. The boy was transported to the Sydney Children's hospital in Randwick for treatment of his critical injuries, an ambulance spokesperson said. Shark beach was closed and police advised swimmers to avoid swimming in the water. The shark net at Nielsen Park was damaged during massive swells in April 2025. Repairs were completed in early December."

"It is understood the boy was swimming outside the net enclosure at the time of the attack. Sunday's event follows on from a fatal shark attack on Sydney's northern beaches in September when a 57-year-old man was killed at Long Reef beach near Dee Why. In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed by a bull shark at Kylies beach in the Crowdy Bay national park in New South Wales. Last March, a swimmer in her 50s was bitten by a suspected bull shark at Gunyah beach near Bundeena in Sydney's south."

A boy believed to be about 12 suffered serious injuries to both legs in a shark attack at Shark Beach, Neilsen Park in Vaucluse on Sunday afternoon. First responders applied tourniquets at the scene and emergency services, including CareFlight helicopters and intensive care units, attended. The boy was transported to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick for treatment of critical injuries. Shark Beach was closed and swimmers were advised to avoid the water. The shark net at Nielsen Park had been damaged by massive swells in April 2025 and repairs finished in early December. The boy was outside the net enclosure during the attack.

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