Nico Antic is still critically ill after the shark attack in Sydney on Sunday. Now his family have shared his likelihood of survival.
Nico Antic is still critically ill after the shark attack in Sydney on Sunday. Now his family have shared his likelihood of survival.
The family of the 12-year-old boy who was mauled in Sydney Harbour in a terrifying shark attack have shared a heartbreaking update on his condition.
Nico Antic was at the beach with his friends on Sunday, January 18, when the horror unfolded. The boys had been jumping off rocks at a beach in the harbourside suburb of Vaucluse, when Nico was bitten by what is believed to have been a bull shark.
The shock mauling was the first in a series of four attacks in the last few days in New South Wales, Australia, with each attack sparking renewed fears for swimmers and beachgoers.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene within minutes of witnesses calling Australia’s emergency number, rushing to save Nico’s life. One of Nico”s friends bravely entered the water to pull his friend to safety, and has since been praised by first responders for giving his friend a fighting chance.
Nico was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition, with both legs severely injured in the attack. He has been in a coma since the incident and underwent emergency surgery on Sunday night. But despite doctors’ best efforts, his family have since shared his devastating prognosis.
His sister, Sophie shared her family’s heartbreak, saying he is “still asleep, but will not be able to make it because his brain is completely unresponsive”.
Sophie added: “He is a sporty kid and never fails to put a smile on people’s faces. He is loved by many friends and family.”
The sad update comes only a day after family friend Victor Piñeiro set up a GoFundMe campaign to support the Antic family. He issued a similarly bleak update on Tuesday on Nico’s condition alongside the fundraiser to help his family through such an impossible time.
“Despite all efforts, this heartbreaking event has led to the worst possible outcome,” he wrote. “We are raising funds to help the Antic family cover upcoming expenses and related arrangements during this incredibly difficult time.”
About 1,700 people have donated to the family so far, and, as of 2.30pm local time, had raised just more than AUD$122,000 (£61,000).
Nico was the first victim of a spate of shark attacks across the Australian state of New South Wales in the days that followed. Swimming spots on NSW’s northern beaches were closed yesterday to both surfers and swimmers for 48 hours after a 39-year-old man became the fourth person mauled since Sunday.
On Monday, a 27-year-old man suffered critical injuries after being bitten at North Steyne Beach in Manly, on Sydney’s northern beaches. NSW Police say the man has sustained “life-changing injuries” in the attack and he remains in critical condition following surgery. And, in another attack on Monday, another surfer escaped without injury after a shark took a chunk out of his surfboard at Dee Why Beach on NSW’s northern beaches.
Shark experts say conditions in NSW at the moment – warm ocean temperatures and dirty water from recent storms – are providing perfect conditions for bull shark activity.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said to Australian national broadcaster the ABC: “Anytime after a big weather event there’s always going to be a lot of run-off and out flow of creeks into the ocean and river mouths. We really strongly advocate that nobody swim or surf near river mouths because it’s obviously an area where sharks congregate. If it’s dirty water I’d think twice about going in there.”
Peace added: “We have such poor water quality that’s conducive to bull shark activity … [so] just go to a local pool, because at this stage, we’re advising that the beaches are unsafe.”
You can donate to the Antic family via the GoFundMe campaign here.
