Sydney harbour shark attack: police warn against swimming and say heavy rain created perfect storm' before boy bitten

"The actions of his mates who've gone into the water and pulled him out have been nothing but brave, McNulty said, adding praise to emergency responders. All I can say is the actions between police the team who were doing CPR at the time, it was extraordinary. It was a textbook recovery to give this boy a fighting chance for survival. He's in for the fight of his life now, and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance."

"A nearby police speedboat responded within minutes, where an officer applied a double tourniquet to both of the boy's legs to stop the bleeding. Officers were administering CPR as the boy was taken by boat to nearby Rose Bay, where ambulance crews were waiting to rush him to the hospital. He remained in critical condition with injuries to both legs."

"Mcnulty noted Sydney harbour was brackish, meaning it contained a mixture of salt and freshwater, which can worsen visibility. After a weekend of heavy rain, he said officials believed the water quality, as well as the splashing from people jumping into the water off the rocks, may have made that perfect storm environment for the shark attack. At the moment we've experienced a lot of fresh water in the harbour, it's brackish water, so you can't see the bottom, he said."

A 12-year-old boy was attacked by a large shark while jumping off a rock ledge near Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour about 4.20pm with friends. The attack, possibly by a bull shark, left the boy with severe injuries to both legs and in critical condition. Friends rushed to assist and at least one jumped into the water to pull him to safety. A nearby police speedboat arrived within minutes and an officer applied double tourniquets while officers administered CPR as the boy was taken by boat to Rose Bay and transported to hospital. Authorities noted the harbour was brackish after heavy rain, reducing visibility, and said water quality and splashing may have created conditions conducive to the shark encounter.

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