An 11-year-old boy surfing at Dee Why Beach had a close call with a shark on Monday morning when the marine animal bit his surfboard multiple times at the southern end of the beach.
The young surfer managed to escape without injury and made it safely back to shore, despite his board sustaining several bite marks during the incident.
According to a Surf Life Saving NSW spokesperson, the beach had already been closed to the public due to hazardous water conditions at the time of the attack. The closure is expected to remain in place for up to 48 hours following the incident.
Surf lifesavers responded immediately after the boy reached the shore, deploying a drone to monitor the waters around Dee Why Beach for any signs of shark activity.
The species of shark involved has not yet been confirmed. A section of the damaged surfboard has been sent to NSW Fisheries for analysis, which may help identify what type of shark was responsible for the attack.
The Manly Observer reported that witnesses believe they spotted a bull shark measuring approximately four to five feet in length, though this sighting remains unconfirmed by authorities.
The Dee Why incident occurred just one day after a separate shark attack at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, where a 13-year-old boy was mauled shortly after entering the water at Shark Beach around 4.20pm on Sunday.
The teenager remains in hospital in critical condition. NSW Police Superintendent Joseph McNulty commended the brave actions of the victim’s friends, particularly one who jumped into the water to help pull the injured teen to safety, describing the rescue effort as “heroic”.
That beach also remains closed, with authorities advising the public to avoid swimming in harbour waters for the time being.
Both incidents have prompted increased vigilance from beach safety officials across Sydney’s coastal areas.
Published 19-January-2026
