A spate of four shark attacks along the New South Wales coast over a three-day period has led authorities and organisers to cancel open water swimming events and warn the public against entering the ocean.

Beginning on January 18, a twelve-year-old boy was critically injured by a suspected bull shark outside a netted swimming area in Sydney Harbour, prompting immediate concern and emergency medical treatment.

Subsequent incidents included an eleven-year-old’s surfboard being bitten at Dee Why Beach, a twenty-seven-year-old man suffering severe injuries while surfing at Manly, and a thirty-nine-year-old surfer sustaining minor wounds near Point Plomer.

These attacks occurred amid heavy rainfall that created murky coastal waters, conditions that marine experts say can draw bull sharks closer to popular swimming and surfing zones. 

In response to the heightened risk and community alarm, local authorities closed beaches along Sydney’s northern coastline and parts of the mid-north coast, deploying electronic monitoring equipment and urging residents to avoid ocean swimming in favour of pools or enclosed swimming areas.

Surf Life Saving New South Wales leadership underlined that poor water quality and conditions highly conducive to shark presence warranted exceptional caution for recreational water users.

Event organisers consulted with police and waterway safety officials before cancelling scheduled activities, including the Sydney Harbour Splash, out of respect for victims and concern for public safety. 

The sequence of attacks and resulting cancellations marks one of the most significant concentrations of shark interactions in the region in recent years, disrupting Sydney’s vibrant beach culture and prompting renewed conversations about marine safety planning.

Officials emphasise that while unprovoked shark incidents remain statistically rare, protecting swimmers and surfers during such periods of elevated risk has become a paramount priority for coastal management and event organisers alike.

Beaches remain closed in some areas as authorities continue to monitor conditions and provide guidance on safe water activities.