A 27-year-old musician is fighting for his life in critical condition after a shark attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly on Monday evening.
Andre de Ruyter, from Wollongong, was surfing at the popular beach around 6:20pm when he was attacked by what authorities believe was a shark. He suffered severe leg injuries and went into cardiac arrest by the time paramedics arrived.
Photo Credit: Facebook / Andre de Ruyter
Fellow surfers pulled Mr de Ruyter from the water and provided immediate assistance on the sand. In a stroke of extraordinary fortune, surf lifesavers were conducting CPR and first aid training at the nearby North Steyne Surf Club when the attack occurred, allowing them to respond within moments with a defibrillator and medical equipment.
An off-duty NSW Ambulance doctor who happened to be swimming at the beach also rushed to assist, providing critical medical care alongside the surf lifesavers and members of the public who had helped bring Mr de Ruyter to shore.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce confirmed that lifesavers applied a tourniquet to Mr de Ruyter’s injured leg and commenced CPR at the scene.
NSW Ambulance acting-Superintendent Christie Marks praised the coordinated response effort, highlighting an unusual measure taken during transport to Royal North Shore Hospital. Two NSW Highway Patrol vehicles met the ambulance at Spit Bridge to deliver 13 additional units of blood in what Ms Marks described as an “F1 pit stop” manoeuvre, necessary due to the significant blood loss Mr de Ruyter had suffered.
Northern Beaches Council lifeguards immediately evacuated all swimmers from Manly Beach and closed beaches along the northern beaches following the attack. Surf Life Saving NSW deployed drones, while the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and lifesavers on jet skis searched for the shark.
The attack at Manly was the third shark incident in Sydney waters within 24 hours. On Sunday afternoon, a 12-year-old boy was bitten by a shark near Shark Beach at Vaucluse and remains in intensive care at Sydney Children’s Hospital with serious leg injuries. Earlier on Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy’s surfboard was bitten by a shark at Dee Why Point, though the boy escaped physical injury.
Surf Life Saving NSW president Steve Pearce described the incident as “bad”, reflecting growing concern among lifesavers following the string of shark encounters across Sydney beaches.
Authorities have urged the public to swim between the red and yellow flags, avoid dawn and dusk swimming when sharks are more active, and follow all beach closures and safety warnings.
Published 19-January-2026
