A 12-year-old boy has succumbed to injuries from a vicious shark attack in Sydney Harbor, his family confirmed on Saturday.
Nico Antic had been receiving medical care since Jan. 18, after he was attacked while swimming at a popular cliff-jumping location called Jump Rock near Shark Beach in Vaucluse, an eastern Sydney suburb.
On Saturday, his family announced his death.
“We are devastated to announce that our son, Nico, has passed away,” said Nico’s parents, Lorena and Juan, in a statement. “Nico was a cheerful, sociable, and athletic young boy with an incredibly kind and generous spirit. He was always vibrant and energetic, and that is how we will remember him.”
They also expressed gratitude to the emergency responders and medical personnel at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick for their dedication, as well as to community members for their support.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by a family friend had collected over $266,000 by Saturday evening.
Police reported that the incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Jan. 18, after Antic leaped from a 20-foot ledge into the water. He sustained grave injuries to both legs, which are thought to have been inflicted by a large shark.
His three friends swiftly entered the water, dragged him to shore, and summoned assistance. Antic was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Local media outlets reported at the time that he had lost both of his legs.
This tragedy occurs during a spike in shark encounters throughout Australia. Numerous beaches were shut down this week following four shark attacks in just a few days.
According to Reuters, Australia experiences approximately 20 shark attacks annually, with fewer than three resulting in death.
Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.