A child is in a critical condition following a horror shark attack at one of the world's most iconic beaches. The boy, aged around 13, was understood to be jumping off rocks at the end of a beach in Sydney, Australia, when the shark struck.
Emergency services confirmed they were called to the unfortunately-named Shark Beach in Sydney Harbour, at around 4.20pm. New South Wales Police said: "Emergency services were called to Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Steele Point Road, Vaucluse, near Shark Beach, following reports of a boy being bitten by a shark. The boy, believed to be aged about 13, was rescued from the water off Shark Beach by officers from the Marine Area Command and Eastern Suburbs Police within minutes of the of the call being made to 000. Water Police officer attached two medical tourniquets and was immediately given first aid on board the police vessel Water Police 41 for serious leg injuries before being transported to Rose Bay wharf, where NSW Ambulance Paramedics continued first aid."
A New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson confirmed "multiple resources" were in attendance, including an intensive care paramedic, aeromedical teams, and a helicopter.
"The patient, a teenage boy, with critical injuries to both of his legs, was transported to Sydney Children’s Hospital [in] Randwick in a critical condition," the spokesperson said.
Shark Bay is located in Sydney's affluent, harbour-view suburb of Vaucluse. The beach is known for both its netted swimming area and open water, with shark attacks being incredibly rare in the ocean around Sydney.
The beach has since been closed, with swimmers in Sydney advised to avoid the water.
The boy's injuries are consistent with what is believed to have been a large shark, authorities said.
Comments (0)