Newly released surf camera footage has captured the horrifying moment a young surfer was violently pulled beneath the water during a shark attack at Sydney's iconic Manly Beach. The 27-year-old man was bitten just after 6pm on Tuesday and was pulled unconscious from the surf by quick-thinking fellow board riders.
Chaotic Scenes as Heroes Rush to Help
In the confronting vision, the surfer can be seen struggling as a shark thrashes in the water beside him before he disappears below the surface. Two other surfers immediately raced toward the scene, battling to drag the injured man back to shore through bloodied water.
Eyewitness Max White described the chaotic moment backpackers began screaming and pointing out to sea. "Looking into the water, they saw two surfers dragging an injured man in, with blood visible around them," White said. He praised the rescuers as the real heroes, stating, "They paddled this guy from all the way out the back, blood everywhere, and they brought him all the way into the beach."
Once on the sand, a wave of bystanders rushed to administer first aid. The man was treated on the beach before being rushed to hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
Unprecedented Cluster of Sydney Shark Attacks
This terrifying incident at Manly marks the third shark attack in Sydney waters in just 48 hours, prompting an unprecedented response from authorities. All northern beaches have been closed as a result.
On Monday, a suspected bull shark bit an 11-year-old boy's surfboard at Dee Why Beach. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Nico Antic remains in a critical condition in hospital after being attacked in Sydney Harbour on Sunday.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce issued an urgent warning, stating the situation was without precedent. "The beaches are closed for your safety. The water is unsafe at the moment because of the turbidity and the murkiness of the water," Pearce said. He emphasised that people must not enter the water for swimming or surfing for at least the next 48 hours.
Experts Point to Environmental Causes
Authorities and shark experts have pointed to specific environmental conditions as the likely cause for this sudden spike in activity. Surf Life Saving NSW's Steven Pearce cited "turbid and brackish" water creating ideal conditions for bull sharks.
University of Sydney public policy expert Associate Professor Chris Pepin-Neff suggested Sydney Harbour's ageing sewerage infrastructure could be a factor. The pipes overflow with minimal rain, and Sydney received 127mm on Sunday. "When the pipes overflow, when there's more sewage, the bait fish eat the sewage and then the bull sharks come to eat the bait fish, and that draws them into the surface and into the shore," he explained.
Shark expert Professor Robert Harcourt called the cluster of attacks "a bit of a shocker." He believes bull sharks are being drawn closer to shore by warmer waters and the recent heavy rainfall, which displaces their food sources. With more rain forecast, he strongly advised people to stay out of the water until it clears.
In response to the crisis, a multi-faceted operation is underway:
- The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter has been deployed for surveillance.
- Jet skis are patrolling and drones are monitoring conditions across 10 beaches.
- The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has installed 34 drumlines along the coast.
Despite the clear warnings and closures, some surfers were still spotted in the water on Tuesday morning. Authorities have stated that beaches will be reassessed in 48 hours, with any reopening dependent on water clarity and overall safety conditions.
