Particle.news
Download on the App Store
132 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Fourth Suspected Shark Attack Expands NSW Closures as Two Victims Remain Critical

Authorities link the cluster to murky, brackish water after heavy rain, prompting warnings to avoid poor‑visibility conditions.

Image
People stand next to warning signs in place, and beaches are closed after a surfer suffered a shark attack today at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, Australia, on January 19, 2026.
The boy’s surfboard shows bite marks from a shark.
Image

Overview

  • A 12-year-old boy bitten near Shark Beach in Sydney Harbour and a surfer in his 20s at Manly’s North Steyne remain in critical condition in hospital after separate attacks.
  • An 11-year-old at Dee Why escaped injury when a shark took a 15 cm bite from his surfboard, with preliminary analysis indicating a likely bull shark.
  • A 39-year-old surfer sustained minor cuts at Point Plomer on the Mid North Coast, the fourth incident in three days, triggering local beach closures by National Parks and Wildlife Services.
  • All Northern Beaches are closed while lifeguards ramp up jet ski, drone, and helicopter patrols, and smart drumlines are deployed where conditions allow.
  • Police and fisheries investigators cite brackish runoff and low visibility as key factors and urge the public to avoid harbours and river systems until water quality improves.