A day meant for laughter and adventure ended in tragedy.
A 12-year-old Australian boy, Nico Antic, has died after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour, his grieving family confirmed on Saturday. The incident comes amid growing concern following a series of shark attacks along Australia’s east coast.
Nico was with friends on Sunday afternoon, jumping off rocks in Vaucluse, about nine kilometers from Sydney’s central business district. It was a place familiar to them — a spot for play, for summer thrills, for being young.
Then, without warning, everything changed.
The boy was attacked in the water and suffered severe injuries to both legs. His friends acted quickly, pulling him from the harbour and rushing him to the hospital. Despite doctors’ efforts, Nico did not survive.
In a heartbreaking statement, his family shared their loss.
“We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away,” they said.
“Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life — and that’s how we’ll remember him.”
In the days following the attack, dozens of beaches, including several in Sydney, were closed as authorities responded to heightened shark activity. Officials said heavy rains had made the waters murky — conditions known to increase the likelihood of shark encounters.
The tragedy has stirred painful memories. Just last September, a surfer was killed by a large shark at Long Reef Beach, also in Sydney.
While such attacks are rare, they leave deep scars. Australia records an average of around 20 shark attacks each year, with fewer than three proving fatal, according to conservation groups. Statistically, beach drownings remain far more common — but numbers offer little comfort when a young life is lost.
For Nico’s family, friends, and community, the loss is immeasurable. What remains is the memory of a boy full of energy, kindness, and promise — taken far too soon.
