Manly shark survivor Andre de Ruyter has returned to the water at Narrabeen Ocean Pool months after a bull shark attack left him critically injured and led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
Manly Shark Survivor Returns To The Water
Andre de Ruyter has returned to the water months after being attacked by a bull shark while surfing at North Steyne Beach in Manly.
A video shared by his mother, Lisa, shows de Ruyter paddling on a surfboard through Narrabeen Ocean Pool, with family nearby and his dog Luna also close to him.
The footage shows the musician and surfer moving through the ocean pool with steady paddling after months of treatment and rehabilitation following the Manly attack.
The return to the water marks a clear step in de Ruyter’s recovery after the injuries that left him fighting for his life.
Rescue Effort At North Steyne Beach
De Ruyter was attacked about 6:20 pm on 19 January at North Steyne Beach and suffered severe lower leg injuries before fellow surfers pulled him from the water.
Emergency treatment began on the beach, where surf lifesavers, bystanders and medical responders helped keep him alive. A tourniquet was applied and CPR was performed after he went into cardiac arrest.
Surf lifesavers had been conducting CPR and first aid training at North Steyne Surf Club when the attack happened, allowing responders and equipment to reach him quickly.
An off-duty ambulance doctor at the beach also assisted before de Ruyter was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.
During the trip to hospital, additional blood was delivered to support urgent transfusions. De Ruyter received 13 units of blood while being transported.
Recovery After The Manly Attack
Doctors later amputated de Ruyter’s right leg below the knee because of the extent of his injuries.
His family later said he had survived the attack and had moved off life support, with doctors seeing positive signs while warning that his recovery would take time.
The family sought support for prosthetics, rehabilitation and other care needed after the amputation. They also thanked first responders, medical teams and friends for the help received after the attack.
In an update on 28 April, the family said de Ruyter was being discharged from hospital. Support from donations and fundraising nights had helped the family arrange wheelchair-accessible accommodation near rehabilitation facilities.
The family also said funds would help cover daily physiotherapy and other support aimed at helping de Ruyter rebuild his strength.
Narrabeen Ocean Pool Marks New Step
The recent footage at Narrabeen Ocean Pool shows de Ruyter back on a board and moving through the water again.
His return follows months of recovery from the Manly shark attack, which was attributed to a bull shark after a 15-centimetre bite mark was found on his surfboard.
The attack was among several shark incidents reported around the same period, including cases at Dee Why Point, Vaucluse and Point Plomer.
For de Ruyter, the latest footage centres on rehabilitation and a return to the water after the loss of his lower right leg.
Published 25-June-2026
