A wave of scary-looking shark attacks has swept up the coast of New South Wales. Beachgoers have added reason today than ever before to be concerned for their public safety. Within 48 hours, two people had sustained life-threatening injuries. Among them were a 12-year-old boy and a 25-year-old surfer, leading shark safety experts to advocate for the temporary, precautionary closure of multiple beaches.
That’s exactly what happened in the first attack this past Sunday when a 12-year-old boy was bitten while swimming. Though his friends immediately lifted him out of the water, first responders attended to him right away with tourniquets on both legs of his body. The boy’s condition remains critical but stable.
Then on Monday, the climate only escalated as a 25-year-old surfer was mauled at North Steyne Beach. Eyewitnesses Max White and Dayan Neave filmed the scene as the surfer suffered traumatic leg injuries. Neave recounted his experience, stating,
“I ran down and helped them bring him in because once the surfer stood up, he passed out and his leg was pretty severely lacerated.”
From those four, authorities confirmed that all four shark attacks for this small window of time were bull sharks. Normally not found in colder waters, the recent shift in environmental conditions has carried these sharks into Sydney’s most frequented beaches.
As luck would have it, on the same day as the surfer’s attack, an 11-year-old boy had a far more exciting near miss. A possible bull shark bit a 15-centimeter (6-inch) chunk out of his surfboard at Dee Why Point. Fortunately, the young surfer was not injured in this incident.
This series of shocking attacks has led to unprecedented action up and down the coast. About 40 of those beaches are still closed over safety worries. Steve Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, appealed to beachgoers to avoid entering the ocean altogether. He stated,
“Beaches are shut. They’re shut for a reason. Stay clear of the water, both swimming and surfing.”
Limited visibility due to heavy rainfall in Sydney has made waters particularly murky, helping set the stage for shark encounters. As noted by Chris Minns, an Australian local official, this weather pattern in recent years has been associated with greater shark presence.
“I remember hearing from one of my aunts when I was a kid – that when there’s stormy weather, when the water is unclear – that’s when bull sharks, particularly, get in and about the lower estuaries,” Minns remarked.
Vincent Raoult, a senior lecturer in marine ecology, stressed that bull sharks are a real danger. He noted that studies have found it completely unsubstantiated that a population tsunami is crashing toward Sydney. He reiterated the importance of understanding shark behavior. These creatures often chew as a way to feel their environment.
“Like most shark species, the way that they can really sense their surroundings is by biting things. And unfortunately, if you’re talking about a larger shark on a person, a nibble can be lethal,” Raoult explained.
Even with these recent occurrences, surfers such as Rob West are not discouraged. He described his many years of experience in the water and how he always respected the hazards present.
“I’ve been surfing since I’ve been 13 and I’ve never even seen one out there. They’ve probably seen me plenty of times and just realized what I was. I don’t look enough like a seal to be attacked,” West shared.
Residents and visitors are becoming frightened for their safety. This concern has led to conversations around improving safety messaging, enforcement, and communications when dealing with extreme weather events. According to Minns, in light of this study, there’s potential requirements to improve alert systems for beachgoers during severe weather.
“It can be incredibly dangerous. So yes, I think that probably our warning system and communication needs to be beefed up, particularly during stormy weather,” he said.
Authorities continue to keep a close watch on the developments. Surfers and swimmers should continue to be on high alert and heed all safety advice provided by local officials. Summer isn’t too far off, and with warmer weather, the demand for popular beach activities will soon spike too.
