3 shark attacks off Sydney in just over 24 hours; man, boy in critical condition
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SYDNEY, Australia - A man and boy were critically injured, and another boy had his surfboard bitten during three separate shark attacks in Sydney, Australia in just over 24 hours, police confirmed Monday.
Man, boy in critical condition after shark attacks
Big picture view:
A man, believed to be in his 20s, was in a critical condition Monday after being bitten by a shark at Sydney's Northern Beaches on Jan. 19.
At 6.20 p.m. local time, emergency services were called to North Steyne Beach, following reports of a surfer being bitten by a shark.
FILE: A bull shark comes close to inspect tourists and their cameras during an eco tourism shark dive off of Jupiter, Florida on May 5, 2022. (Credit: Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The man was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of officials.
The man was treated for serious leg injuries by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to the hospital in a critical condition.
Teenage boy in critical condition after shark attack
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Meanwhile, a teenage boy was also in a critical condition in a hospital on Monday after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour late Sunday afternoon.
At about 4:20 pm local time on Jan. 18, emergency services were called to Hermitage Foreshore Walk near Shark Beach, following reports of a boy being bitten by a shark.
The boy, 12, was rescued from the water by officers from Marine Area Command and Eastern Suburbs Police within minutes of the call being made.
Water Police officers attached two medical tourniquets, and the boy was immediately given first aid on board the police vessel for serious leg injuries before being transported to Children’s Hospital at Randwick in a critical condition.
Police said the injuries were consistent with what is believed to have been a large shark.
Police credit boy’s 3 friends with saving his life
What they're saying:
Police have credited the boy’s three friends with saving his life by jumping from the cliff 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," Supt. Joseph McNulty told reporters.
"Those actions of those young men are brave under the circumstances and very confronting injuries for those boys to see," McNulty added.
News media have reported that the boy lost both legs in the attack.
11-year-old boy’s surfboard attacked
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Around noon on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was on a surfboard that was attacked by a shark at Dee Why Beach, an ocean beach north of Manly. The shark bit off a chunk of the board, but the boy escaped uninjured.
Local authorities said Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, would remain closed until further notice.
All three beaches near where the attacks occurred have some form of shark protection netting. It was not immediately clear where the attacks occurred in relation to that netting.
Authorities suspect bull sharks are responsible for at least the first two attacks.
Police had warned after the first attack that recent heavy rain over Sydney had increased the amount of fresh and murky water inside the harbor, heightening the bull shark danger.
Other recent shark attacks
Local perspective:
Dee Why Beach is close to Ocean Reef Beach where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected white shark last September.
RELATED: Man dies in shark attack at Sydney beach
In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed and her partner was seriously injured trying to save her as they swam off a national park north of Sydney.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by the NSW Police Department. This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.