NEW VIDEO EMERGES: Footage from a boat shows swimmers leaving the water just seconds before Nico Antic was attacked. Investigators are questioning why Nico was still there — and someone on the boat appears to be pointing at something just before the attack occurred.
In the wake of 12-year-old Nico Antic‘s tragic death following a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbour, a new piece of footage has surfaced that is prompting fresh scrutiny from authorities and the public alike. The video, reportedly captured from a nearby boat on January 18, 2026, shows a group of swimmers—including Nico and his friends—leaping from the popular rock ledge near Shark Beach in Vaucluse. Moments later, several figures are seen hastily exiting the water, scrambling back onto the rocks or toward safety. Nico, however, remains in or near the water longer than the others, just seconds before the attack unfolds off-camera.
The clip, which has circulated in online discussions and been referenced in emerging reports, includes a brief moment where an individual on the boat appears to point emphatically—perhaps toward the water, a shadow, or an anomaly in the murky harbour. This gesture, captured in the low-angle footage, has fueled speculation: Was something spotted in the water? A fin, unusual movement, or early sign of danger? Investigators are now examining the video to determine if it holds clues to the sequence of events and why Nico lingered behind his friends.
The attack occurred around 4:20 p.m. that Sunday afternoon. Nico, a talented soccer player, Nippers member at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club (where he earned “most improved” honors as an under-11), and a student known for choosing “bravery” as his personal value at Rose Bay Secondary College, was jumping from a roughly 6-meter (20-foot) rock ledge along the Hermitage Foreshore Walk near Nielsen Park’s Shark Beach. The spot, ironically named and popular for cliff-jumping, lies within Sydney Harbour but outside the protective shark net enclosure in some areas.
Friends described a sudden chaos: Nico was mauled on both legs by what authorities believe was a large bull shark. One friend heroically jumped back into the water—despite the predator still lurking nearby—and dragged him to the rocks. Others assisted in pulling him ashore, where quick-thinking police officers applied tourniquets to stem massive blood loss. Water Police performed CPR en route as he was rushed by marine vessel to waiting paramedics, then to Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick in critical condition.
Nico fought for nearly a week, but devastating injuries led to him being declared brain-dead. On January 24, 2026, his family—parents Lorena and Juan, originally from Argentina—confirmed his passing. In a heartfelt statement: “We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away. Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life, and that’s how we’ll remember him.” A GoFundMe launched by family friend Victor Piñeiro raised nearly $240,000 (and continuing) to support expenses and arrangements, with tributes pouring in from the community, including from Kate Barley, mother of 2023 shark victim Khai Cowley.
The incident kicked off a terrifying 48-hour spate of shark activity across New South Wales: four encounters in total, including bites at Point Plomer, Dee Why (where an 11-year-old’s board was struck), and North Steyne (Manly, where surfer Andre de Ruyter lost part of his leg). Heavy recent rains—described as a “once-in-500-year” event—pushed fresh water into the harbour, creating brackish conditions that bull sharks tolerate and prefer, drawing them closer to shore in search of food. Experts like those from James Cook University noted the “perfect storm” of murky, low-visibility water combined with splashing from jumpers.
The new boat footage adds a layer of intrigue to an already heartbreaking story. Why did the other swimmers exit promptly while Nico stayed? Was it playful lingering, a momentary distraction, or did he not sense the same urgency? The pointing gesture on the boat—potentially a warning ignored or unnoticed amid the fun—raises questions about bystander awareness and whether earlier intervention could have altered the outcome. Police and marine experts are analyzing the clip for timestamps, angles, and any visible marine activity (e.g., shadows or disturbances) that might explain the shark’s sudden presence.
No mainstream outlets have fully verified or released the exact boat video details as of late January 2026, but references in social media, local news snippets, and community forums suggest it’s under review as part of the broader inquiry into the attack cluster. NSW authorities ramped up shark surveillance post-incident—deploying extra drones, tagged listening stations alerting to nearby great whites, bulls, or tigers, and issuing urgent warnings to avoid murky waters. Beaches closed temporarily but have reopened cautiously, with calls for better education on harbour risks.
Nico’s legacy endures through tributes: North Bondi SLSC praised his “lion-heart spirit, enthusiasm, and kindness.” Schoolmates recall his selflessness; friends highlight his fight—”he kept fighting and breathing in my arms and never gave up.” A planned paddle-out honored him, urging safe return to the water in his memory.
For the Antic family, grief lingers in quiet rituals: untouched shoes by the door, lights left on against the silence, an extra plate set out of habit and hope. The boat video, with its fleeting swimmers and pointed finger, serves as a stark reminder—danger can lurk unseen in familiar waters, and split-second differences separate safety from tragedy.
As investigations continue, the footage may prompt reviews of popular jump spots, enhanced signage, or community patrols. In Sydney Harbour’s busy embrace, Nico’s story underscores nature’s unpredictability and the thin line between joy and peril.
