Three shark attacks have been reported in Sydney in more than 24 hours, leaving at least two people seriously injured, according to local authorities.
A man was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being injured on Manly beach on Monday night, New South Wales Police said in a statement.
Hours later, an 11-year-old surfer had to be helped at Sydney’s Dee Why Beach after a suspected shark bit his surfboard, with the local council urging swimmers and surfers to be careful.
The first incident saw a 12-year-old boy taken to hospital with critical injuries after he was attacked by a large shark while swimming in Sydney Harbor on Sunday afternoon, police said.
The boy and his group of friends were jumping off a six-metre rock ledge at Shark Beach, in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, when the attack happened on Sunday.
Despite its name, shark attacks are rare at Shark Beach, a popular swimming spot.
The boy was pulled from the water by his friends before rescuers arrived. Police said their actions gave him a shot at life, local media reported. He is currently in intensive care.
“The actions of his mates … were nothing but brave. (It was) a brave recovery,” said Joseph McNulty, who heads the state of New South Wales’ marine area command.
“It’s a lot of dealing with injuries that guys see, but I think that’s the combination.”
Marine police arrived at a “terrible scene”, McNulty told reporters. They pulled the boy into a police speedboat and used tourniquets to try and stop the bleeding in his legs.
They also tried to free the child as the ship made its way to an ambulance waiting at a port.
Authorities believe the boy was attacked by a bull shark, an aggressive species found in warm, shallow waters. Many experts consider bull sharks to be one of the most dangerous sharks in the world.
McNulty believes heavy rain over the weekend and brackish water conditions could create a “perfect storm environment” for Sunday’s attack. Rain brings nutrients into rivers and oceans that bring sharks closer to shore.
The latest attack, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, prompted police to close all beaches in the area until further notice.
According to police, emergency services were alerted to the third attack after a surfer was pulled from the water at North Steyne Beach, Manly, at 18:20 local time (07:20 GMT).
He sustained serious injuries to his legs, and was rushed to the hospital.
Australia, home to some of the best beaches in the world, is also one of the deadliest places for shark attacks. There is at least five fatal shark attacks in the country last year.