The tragic loss of 12-year-old Nico Antic has deepened the grief of his family and the wider Sydney community following his death from injuries sustained in a devastating shark attack at Nielsen Park.
Nico, described by his parents Lorena and Juan as a “happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit,” was full of life—always smiling, active, and deeply connected to the ocean he loved. He passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, after being declared brain-dead nearly a week after the attack. Despite exhaustive medical efforts, his family made the heart-wrenching decision to let him go peacefully, surrounded by those who cherished him most.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of Sunday, January 18, 2026, when Nico was cliff-jumping with friends off a rock ledge west of Shark Beach at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, a scenic and popular spot along Sydney Harbour. Outside the shark-netted swimming area, he entered the water and was immediately attacked by what experts believe was a bull shark. The predator inflicted severe bites, primarily to both legs, leading to catastrophic blood loss. Quick-thinking bystanders and friends dragged him ashore, applied pressure to stem the bleeding, and awaited emergency services. Paramedics airlifted him to hospital in critical condition, where surgeons battled to save him through multiple procedures.
In the chaotic moments following the attack—as first responders stabilized him and doctors prepared for surgery—Nico displayed an astonishing calm that has since become a focal point of remembrance. Family accounts, shared privately with close relatives and reflected in tributes, reveal that even amid excruciating pain and shock, he remained composed. He spoke softly, offering words of reassurance to his parents and siblings, expressions of love and concern for them rather than fear for himself.
“He was just a boy who loved the sea,” his family has said in quiet reflections, capturing the essence of a child whose happiest moments revolved around water—swimming, jumping, exploring the shores that now hold such painful memories. In those final conscious exchanges, Nico’s last wish emerged as a detail that has broken hearts across Sydney and beyond: a simple, selfless request tied to his profound love for the ocean. According to intimations from family friends and circulating statements, he expressed a desire to return to the sea in some way—perhaps to be near the waves he adored, or for his memory to live on in the marine world he found so joyful. This poignant wish, born from a boy’s innocent passion, has struck a deep chord, evoking tears from strangers who never knew him but feel the weight of a child facing mortality with such grace.
His parents’ official statement conveyed their devastation while honoring his spirit: “We are heartbroken to share that our son, Nico, has passed away. Nico was a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was full of life and always ready with a smile. We are profoundly grateful to the first responders, bystanders who helped him, and the incredible medical team who fought so hard for him.”
The attack was the first fatal shark incident in Sydney Harbour in decades, part of a concerning uptick in encounters along New South Wales’ coast during the summer season. Bull sharks, known for tolerating brackish and estuarine waters, may have been present due to seasonal or environmental factors, though no single cause has been pinpointed. Nielsen Park, with its sheltered coves and rocky outcrops, had long been considered safe for families—making the tragedy all the more shocking.
Nico’s family has asked for privacy as they navigate unimaginable loss, while expressing thanks for the overwhelming community support, including an online fundraiser and messages of condolence pouring in from across Australia and internationally. Tributes describe him as gentle, adventurous, and deeply loved—a boy whose connection to the sea was as natural as breathing.
In the wake of his passing, beaches in the area have seen increased patrols and monitoring, but the focus remains on remembering Nico not as a statistic of a rare tragedy, but as a vibrant child whose final wish reflected pure, unfiltered love for the world around him. “He was just a boy who loved the sea”—words that now serve as both eulogy and reminder of life’s fragility. His calm in crisis, his kindness even in suffering, and that heartbreaking last wish continue to echo, touching countless hearts in a city forever changed by his brief, beautiful presence.
