A 27-year-old musician and surfer remains in critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital following a devastating shark attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly on Monday evening.
Andre de Ruyter, who had travelled from Wollongong for a day of surfing, was attacked around 6:20pm and suffered severe lower leg injuries that resulted in cardiac arrest. He was pulled from the water by fellow surfers and received emergency treatment on the beach before being rushed to hospital, where surgeons were forced to amputate his lower right leg overnight.
Photo Credit: Instagram / @san_andreas_2o
The attack has been attributed to a bull shark, based on a 15-centimetre bite mark found on Mr de Ruyter’s surfboard, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department.
Mr de Ruyter’s survival has been credited to an extraordinary chain of fortunate circumstances and rapid emergency response. Surf lifesavers were conducting CPR and first aid training at the North Steyne Surf Club when the attack occurred, allowing them to respond immediately with a defibrillator and tourniquet.
NSW Ambulance acting-Superintendent Christie Marks described the coordinated rescue effort, which included members of the public who helped keep Mr de Ruyter afloat and assisted with the tourniquet application. An off-duty NSW Ambulance doctor who happened to be swimming at the beach also provided crucial medical assistance.
In an unprecedented move, NSW Highway Patrol officers met the ambulance at Spit Bridge to deliver 13 additional units of blood in what Ms Marks characterised as an “F1 pit stop”, ensuring Mr de Ruyter received urgent transfusions during transport.
The Manly incident was the third shark attack in New South Wales within 24 hours. On Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy was attacked at Dee Why Point, whilst on Sunday afternoon a 12-year-old boy was bitten near Shark Beach at Vaucluse whilst swimming outside a netted area. A fourth attack occurred on Tuesday at Point Plomer on the Mid North Coast, where a 39-year-old man required hospitalisation.
All attacks have been attributed to bull sharks, a species known for inhabiting shallow coastal waters, estuaries and even freshwater rivers.
Northern Beaches Council lifeguards evacuated Manly Beach immediately following Monday’s attack and closed all northern beaches. Surf Life Saving NSW deployed drones, whilst the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and lifesavers on jet skis conducted water patrols. Beach closures remained in effect on Tuesday as authorities continued monitoring the area.
The cluster of attacks has prompted heightened safety protocols across NSW beaches and renewed focus on public awareness regarding shark activity in coastal waters.
Published 20-January-2026
