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’s regarded as a bull shark around 4.20 pm on Sunday.
He was reportedly with as much as five other children, who tried to help him before emergency services arrived.
The shark seriously injured the boy’s legs, and he was taken to a neighborhood children’s hospital in critical condition.
Police confirmed today that Nico’s condition hasn’t modified, but his family has revealed he’s brain-dead and can likely never get up.
A relative told the Mail: ‘He continues to be asleep, but won’t have the option to make it because his brain is totally unresponsive.
”He’s a sporty kid and never fails to place a smile on people’s faces. He’s loved by many family and friends.’
A family friend who arrange a GoFundMe for Nico’s family said he suffered the ‘worst possible final result’ from the attack.
One family friend wrote: ‘Please donate. It is a family I do know, they usually are going through an unimaginably hard time.’
The fundraiser reads: ‘We’re raising funds to assist the Antic family cover upcoming expenses and related arrangements during this incredibly difficult time.
‘Any contribution, regardless of the dimensions, could be deeply appreciated and would help ease the financial burden as they grieve. All funds might be donated to the Antic family.’
Nico wasn’t the one person to suffer injuries in a shark attack – a surfer was injured within the fourth attack in only 48 hours, shortly after Nico was rushed to the hospital.
A 38-year-old man suffered a ‘wound’ to his chest, medics said, while browsing Tuesday morning.
Authorities have warned swimmers to avoid swimming near river mouths: ‘If it’s dirty water, I’d think twice about entering into there,’ Steve Pearce, the chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, said.
It’s believed that bull sharks were behind the entire recent attacks in Latest South Wales.
The predators are aggressive and territorial, and infrequently encounter humans while swimming of their environment of shallow coastal waters.
In addition they have one in every of the strongest bites, which might break bone and flesh with ease.
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