💔 “My brother is resting, but everything has changed…” 💔 — A devastated family member breaks their silence after a 12-year-old boy was injured in a shark incident in Sydney Harbour.
“Nico was a gifted young athlete who lit up every room with his smile,” they shared through tears.
A young life, a loving family, and a community holding its breath. 😞💔 Read more 👇

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The tragic case of 12-year-old Nico Antic, who was savagely attacked by a suspected bull shark while jumping off rocks in Sydney Harbour, has reached a devastating turning point. A grieving close family member—his older sister Sophie Antic—has spoken out in raw, emotional interviews, revealing that Nico remains on life support but is brain-dead and “will never wake up”. “My brother is asleep but… will never wake up…” she said tearfully to reporters, including in statements to the Daily Mail, as the family grapples with the irreversible brain damage caused by massive blood loss and trauma from the January 18, 2026, incident.

Nico, described by loved ones as a “talented young athlete who was always making people smile,” was a vibrant, sporty boy who had played soccer for seven years with Goal Soccer Academy in Rose Bay. Friends and family remember his infectious grin, his love for the water, and how he lit up every room he entered. He was weeks away from turning 13 when the attack occurred at around 4:20 p.m. near Shark Beach in Nielsen Park, Vaucluse. Nico and his friends were leaping from a six-meter-high ledge known as “Jump Rock” into the harbour waters—an activity popular among local teens—when the shark struck without warning, biting both of his legs and inflicting what authorities and medical teams have called “devastating” and “catastrophic” injuries.

In the chaotic aftermath, one of Nico’s brave friends jumped back into the bloodied, murky water to drag him onto the rocks, a heroic act that likely prevented immediate drowning or exsanguination. Water police arrived swiftly, providing critical first aid including CPR before he was transported by boat to Rose Bay and then by ambulance to Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. There, he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in intensive care on life support. Despite the tireless efforts of medical staff, the severe trauma led to profound brain damage, leaving him in a deep coma with no brain activity detected.

Sophie Antic’s heartbreaking update came amid confusion from earlier erroneous reports suggesting Nico had passed away. She clarified to the Daily Mail that he is still alive but confirmed the grim reality: “He is still asleep, but will not be able to make it because his brain is completely unresponsive.” The family, originally from South America, has maintained a constant vigil at his bedside, holding onto every precious moment while preparing for the inevitable. Close family friend Victor Piñeiro, who launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised significant funds (over $90,000 in initial reports) to cover medical expenses, travel, and arrangements, echoed the sentiment in his fundraiser description: the event has led to the “worst possible outcome,” and support is needed during this “incredibly difficult time.”

The attack is part of a concerning spike in shark encounters along the New South Wales coast in mid-January 2026. In the surrounding days, other incidents included a surfer’s board being bitten at Dee Why (with the young rider uninjured), serious leg injuries to another surfer at Manly, and a bite to a 39-year-old off the Mid North Coast. Experts attribute the activity to bull sharks—aggressive, adaptable predators that enter estuarine environments like Sydney Harbour after heavy rainfall, which stirs up nutrients and reduces salinity, drawing them closer to shore. Bull sharks are one of the few species known to pose a significant risk to humans due to their territorial nature and powerful bite.

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The calm waters and rock-jumping ledge at Nielsen Park’s Shark Beach, site of the attack.

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Views of the popular swimming and recreation area in Vaucluse.

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Bull sharks, suspected culprits due to their prevalence in harbour waters.

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Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, where Nico has been receiving care.

This incident has profoundly affected the local community, with tributes highlighting Nico’s joyful spirit and the heroism of his friends. Calls for improved shark monitoring—such as expanded drone surveillance, additional netting in vulnerable harbour spots, and public education—have intensified, though experts emphasize that attacks remain rare and that sharks are vital to marine ecosystems. As the Antic family navigates their unimaginable grief, Nico’s legacy as a smiling, talented young athlete endures, a poignant reminder of life’s fragility in the waters many cherish.