A 12-year-old boy who was mauled by a shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour is brain dead, his family have said.
Nico Antic was swimming in Nielsen Park when he was attacked by what is thought to be a bull shark around 4.20 pm on Sunday.
He was reportedly with up to five other children, who tried to assist him before emergency services arrived.
The shark seriously injured the boy’s legs, and he was taken to a local children’s hospital in critical condition.
Police confirmed today that Nico’s condition hasn’t changed, but his family has revealed he’s brain-dead and will likely never wake up.
A relative told the Mail: ‘He is still asleep, but will not be able to make it because his brain is completely unresponsive.
”He is a sporty kid and never fails to put a smile on people’s faces. He is loved by many friends and family.’
A family friend who set up a GoFundMe for Nico’s family said he suffered the ‘worst possible outcome’ from the attack.
One family friend wrote: ‘Please donate. This is a family I know, and they are going through an unimaginably hard time.’
The fundraiser reads: ‘We are raising funds to help the Antic family cover upcoming expenses and related arrangements during this incredibly difficult time.
‘Any contribution, no matter the size, would be deeply appreciated and would help ease the financial burden as they grieve. All funds will be donated to the Antic family.’
Nico wasn’t the only person to suffer injuries in a shark attack – a surfer was injured in the fourth attack in just 48 hours, shortly after Nico was rushed to the hospital.
A 38-year-old man suffered a ‘wound’ to his chest, medics said, while surfing Tuesday morning.
Authorities have warned swimmers to avoid swimming near river mouths: ‘If it’s dirty water, I’d think twice about going in there,’ Steve Pearce, the chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, said.
It’s believed that bull sharks were behind all of the recent attacks in New South Wales.
The predators are aggressive and territorial, and often encounter humans while swimming in their environment of shallow coastal waters.
They also have one of the strongest bites, which can break bone and flesh with ease.
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