Large stretches of Sydney’s coastline closed after three shark attacks

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Residents on Sydney’s northern beaches are being urged to stay out of the water, with sweeping beach closures after three shark attacks in the harbour city.

Transcript

00:00The response has been vast here on the northern beaches.

00:05Every single northern beach is closed today and for the next 24 hours.

00:10That's 10 beaches.

00:11Now we've also heard from Surf Life Saving NSW that there has been a real increase in

00:16resources monitoring shark activity in the area.

00:19There's been 34 smart drumlines added in the last night and this morning.

00:25There's also extended drone monitoring happening for 24 hours a day for the next two days.

00:31So they say they're really closely monitoring these conditions.

00:34With the water, it's so murky and also very rough at the moment.

00:38It really is a dangerous situation for shark activity.

00:42We heard earlier this morning from the CEO of NSW Surf Life Saving.

00:47Here's what he told us.

00:49If anyone's thinking of heading into the surf this morning anywhere along the northern beaches, think again.

00:54You know, we have such poor water quality that's really conducive to some bull shark activity.

01:01We've seen three shark incidents within 24 hours.

01:05We've got two people critically injured in hospital at the moment.

01:09I would state, think again, if you're thinking about going for a swim, just go to a local pool

01:14because at this stage we're advising that the beaches are unsafe.

01:18Molly, details are emerging about the attack that took place close to where you are at the moment at Manly Beach.

01:23I know you've spoken to some of the witnesses this morning.

01:26What did they have to say about it?

01:29We have, Gemma, here at North Stain, which is the beach where that horrible attack happened just after 6 o'clock last night.

01:36A 27-year-old man visiting from Wollongong was bitten while he was out surfing.

01:41And it was a truly miraculous response from those first responders.

01:46We've heard there were lots of lifeguards doing CPR training at the clubhouse just behind me here at North Stain.

01:54And they were able to respond incredibly quickly.

01:56There were also two off-duty doctors already there who were able to provide assistance.

02:00We heard from one of the witnesses this morning who detailed that really harrowing evening activity he witnessed.

02:07So I was with Dayan Neve, who was quick thinking.

02:11He's a former World Tour surfer, so he knew exactly what to do.

02:14He sort of ran to the back of his car, got his leggy out, ran down, put it on straight away.

02:21And then the guide sort of, he was breathing, but he was unconscious.

02:25And we just sort of kept him, or tried to keep him awake as well as all the other people around us.

02:31Everyone was involved.

02:33And Molly, what's the latest on the condition of those attacked?

02:37Gemma, what we know so far is there are still two people fighting for life.

02:42There's the 27-year-old man who was bitten here at North Stain yesterday

02:46and that 12-year-old little boy who was bitten the day before at Vaucluse in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

02:52Now, both of those boys, the boy and man, remain in a critical condition in hospital.

02:58The young boy at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick

03:00and that 27-year-old at the Royal North Shore where he has undergone surgery overnight

03:05and is in the intensive care unit.

03:07So, of course, they're receiving the best possible care they can,

03:10but it is definitely still a very tense time for those families.

03:14And, of course, the community here in Sydney, the surfing community

03:17and those who love the beach are really rattled by these incidents.

03:21And certainly are keeping a very, very close eye on the condition of those patients

03:25and what will happen next here at these beaches.

03:28Molly Slattery at Sydney's Manly Beach.

03:30Here's what I've done here.

03:39You know, brother存 here in Sydney's Manly Beach.

03:40You can go again and bring out to see the next counties there.

03:43You can go again and turn my life to Spal sécurité

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