Parents of Sydney Harbour shark attack victim, 12, join poignant Bondi paddle out

The parents of 12-year-old shark attack victim Nico Antic joined a paddle out in his honour in Bondi.

Juan and Lorena Antic were among more than 100 surfers and swimmers who took to the waves of North Bondi to pay tribute to the Sydney schoolboy and junior lifesaver, who was killed after he was bitten by a suspected bull shark

The attack happened at Neilson Park, near Shark Beach in Vaucluse, on January 18.
The parents of 12-year-old shark attack victim Nico Antic joined a paddle out in his honour in Bondi.Parents of shark attack victim Nico Antic, Juan and Lorena Antic, return to the beach after a memorial paddle. (Max Mason-Hubers)
Shark attack victim Nico Antic has died in a Sydney hospital. The 12-year-old was attacked by a suspected bull shark as he was jumping off a rock face at Neilson Park, near Shark Beach in Vaucluse, on Sunday.Shark attack victim Nico Antic died in a Sydney hospital after being bitten by a shark. (Supplied)

Swimmers young and old, including plenty of those who knew Nico, paddled out into the water at the famous Sydney beach for a powerful celebration of his life.

Nico was an under-13 nipper at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

He was remembered by his club as someone who “wholeheartedly loved the ocean” and had a “true lion heart”.

“Nico arrived at Nippers each week with a big smile and a wonderful attitude,” North Bondi SLSC said in a statement.

The parents of 12-year-old shark attack victim Nico Antic joined a paddle out in his honour in Bondi.The parents of 12-year-old shark attack victim Nico Antic joined a paddle out in his honour in Bondi. (Janie Barrett/SMH)

“He was easy-going, independent, and a true lion heart – determined, with a genuine love for all sports and the kinship they brought.”

Nico died in hospital from his injuries on January 25 after being pulled from the water with serious leg wounds following the shark attack.

Lorena and Juan, said in a statement they were “heartbroken” over his death.

“Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit,” they said.

“He was always full of life and that’s how we’ll remember him.

“We would like to sincerely thank the first responders and the teams at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick for everything they did to care for Nico.”

Paddle out in Bondi for Nico AnticMore than 100 surfers took to the waves of North Bondi to pay tribute to the Sydney schoolboy. (Today)

The junior lifesaver was the first of four shark attack victims in 48 hours on NSW beaches in mid-January.

NSW’s recent wet weather, considered a once-in-a-500 year event, had been a perfect storm for bull sharks to lurk in coastal waters around Sydney and the rest of NSW.