"Beaches Closed"... 'Shark Alert' Issued for Sydney Area Beaches in Australia

Four Shark Attacks in Three Days

Over a three-day period, there were four shark attacks on people at beaches near Sydney, Australia, leaving two individuals in critical condition. All beaches in the area have been completely closed.

According to Australian public broadcaster ABC on January 20 (local time), a 39-year-old man was injured by a shark attack while surfing at Point Plomer Beach, about 300 kilometers north of Sydney in southeastern New South Wales (NSW), around 9 a.m. that day. A local marine rescue worker stated, "It appears that the surfboard absorbed most of the impact from the shark attack," adding, "He managed to swim to shore on his own, where he received help from local residents."

Previously, on the afternoon of January 18, a 12-year-old boy lost both legs and was left in critical condition after being bitten by a shark while swimming at a beach in Sydney Harbor. It was reported that his friends, who were with him at the time, pulled him to shore and saved his life.

On the 20th (local time), a shark was spotted at North Steyne Beach in Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, leading to the installation of a notice sign indicating the temporary closure of the beach. Photo by AP, Yonhap News

Additionally, around noon the previous day, an 11-year-old boy was attacked by a shark while surfing at Dee Why Beach in northern Sydney. Fortunately, the boy was not injured, but the shark bit off part of his surfboard. That same evening, at Manly Beach in northern Sydney, a man in his twenties was left in critical condition after being bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing. Following a series of shark-related injuries, authorities decided to close all 30 or so beaches in northern Sydney.

Experts believe that recent heavy rainfall has caused river and rainwater to flow into Sydney Harbor and nearby beaches, attracting bull sharks, which prefer brackish water where seawater and freshwater mix. Callum Brown, a professor at Macquarie University in Australia, told AFP, "Sharks, especially bull sharks, are drawn to areas where freshwater flows in to feed on fish and dead animals washed down from rivers," adding, "Given the massive amount of rain recently, the risk of encountering sharks is high. Do not enter the water until it clears up."

Steven Pearce, head of the NSW Surf Life Saving, also said, "The water quality is very poor, creating an environment highly suitable for bull shark activity," and advised, "If you are considering swimming, it is better to use a local swimming pool. At this time, we do not consider the beaches to be safe."

Meanwhile, over the past decade, an average of 20 people per year have been injured and 2.8 people have died annually in shark attacks in Australia.