A talented Wollongong musician and surfer is in a critical condition following a horrific shark attack on Sydney's northern beaches.
Surf session turns to nightmare
Andre de Ruyter, a 27-year-old indie pop artist from Wollongong, was mauled by what is believed to be a bull shark while surfing at North Steyne Beach in Manly around 6:30pm on Monday, January 19, 2026. The attack marked the third in a spate of four shark incidents within a devastating 48-hour period, prompting the immediate closure of the entire northern beaches coastline.
De Ruyter, a member of the Austinmer Surf Club who also works as a real estate agent on the northern beaches, was pulled from the water by fellow surfers moments after the attack. Bystanders on the sand used leg ropes as makeshift tourniquets in a desperate attempt to stem the severe bleeding from his leg.
"He suffered pretty horrific lacerations to his leg. He was breathing but he was unconscious and we just tried to keep him awake," said witness Max White, who described the scene as horrific. Emergency services administered 13 units of blood at the scene before the critically injured man was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remains fighting for his life.
A rising musical talent from the Illawarra
Andre de Ruyter, alongside his sister Alysha, is a well-known figure on the South Coast music scene. The siblings regularly perform at gigs across the region and recently played at The Gong Crawl in November 2025.
His music, described as alternative rock touching on folk, surf rock, and indie pop, has earned him airplay on Triple J's Unearthed platform—the same station that helped launch the careers of artists like Missy Higgins and Flume.
The surfboard he was riding during the attack was purchased just last October from DP Surfboards in Bulli. Dylan Perese, the renowned board shaper at DP who has crafted boards for de Ruyter and his family in the past, expressed his unease. "It's a little bit unnerving," Perese said, noting the unprecedented frequency of recent shark activity.
Surfing community rattled by unprecedented activity
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local surfing community, with many questioning the heightened shark presence. Dylan Perese, with over 30 years of surfing experience, stated, "I don't think I've ever seen a period of time when I've been at the front line of making boards that I can remember anything like this."
While he believes most surfers will return to the water if conditions are good, the attack has given others serious pause. Marc Robson, President of the Woonona Boardriders Club, said the incident and the "prolific amount of sharks that are around" would keep him ashore for now. "I couldn't jump in the water right now," he admitted.
Robson and other local surfers have reported unusually warm water and numerous bull shark sightings. He linked the increased risk to recent heavy rain, which draws sharks closer to shore and creates murky conditions. "Murky water is an invitation to disaster because they don't feel with anything but their mouth and they're just trying to feed," Robson explained.
The series of attacks has ignited urgent conversations about marine safety, shark behaviour, and the delicate balance between enjoying Australia's iconic beaches and acknowledging the inherent risks of the ocean.
