Key Takeaways
- The Northern Beaches Council has announced that all beaches in the LGA will remain closed due to ongoing water clarity issues and heightened shark activity.
- Multiple swimming events have been cancelled, including The Big Swim and the Sydney Harbour ‘Splash’, while the Cole Classic Ocean Swim will proceed with strengthened resources.
- Four shark attacks have occurred in NSW within 48 hours, resulting in serious injuries and one fatality.
- Emotional support services are available for those affected by the incidents, including crisis supporters and counsellors at North Steyne.
Introduction to the Situation
The Northern Beaches Council has announced that all beaches in the Local Government Area (LGA) will remain closed today, 22 January 2026, due to ongoing water clarity issues and heightened shark activity. This decision was made in consultation with the Department of Primary Industries and Surf Life Saving, following a series of local shark attacks this week. One of the incidents occurred at Manly Beach, where a 27-year-old musician, Andre de Ruyter, was attacked and had his leg amputated. He is currently in hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition.
The Impact on Swimming Events
The heightened shark activity has resulted in the cancellation of multiple swimming events in the area. The Big Swim, a 52-year-old event, has been cancelled for only the second time in its history. The event, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, was cancelled after discussions with the Northern Beaches Council and Surf Life Saving NSW, citing water quality concerns and heightened shark activity. The Sydney Harbour ‘Splash’, a charity event that raises money for dementia research, has also been cancelled. The event, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, 26 January, was cancelled out of respect for the 12-year-old boy who was bitten by a shark in Sydney’s East at Vaucluse on Sunday, 18 January.
The Cole Classic Ocean Swim
However, not all swimming events have been cancelled. The Cole Classic Ocean Swim, which is scheduled to take place on 1 February, will proceed with strengthened resources. The event will have 70 Bronze Medallion paddlers, three on-site paramedics with two first aid tents, ten inflatable rescue boats, and four jet skis operated by Northern Beaches Council lifeguards. The event will also have two extra Surf Life Saving NSW drones, which will enhance the marine search and rescue, incident response, wildlife surveillance, and beach assessment capacity.
The Recent Shark Attacks
The cancellation and revision of these events follow four shark attacks in NSW within 48 hours. The first attack occurred in Vaucluse, where a young boy was bitten on both legs by a shark and is not expected to survive. The next day, a young musician was attacked at North Steyne while surfing, resulting in the amputation of his leg. Earlier that morning, an 11-year-old boy narrowly escaped injury when a bull shark bit a large chunk from his surfboard at Dee Why Point. Another attack occurred at Point Plomer, where a 39-year-old surfer had his board bitten by a suspected bull shark, resulting in slight grazing and lacerations on his leg.
Emotional Support Available
In response to these attacks, Lifeline Northern Beaches, Mosman to Kirribilli, has organised a support service outside of North Steyne. The Community Critical Incident Response Protocol (CCIR) will host crisis supporters and counsellors for people who were impacted by these events, providing emotional support and wellbeing checks. The services will be available today from 10 am – 4 pm and on Sunday, 8 am-noon. Crisis supporters will be roaming North Steyne, wearing recognisable Lifeline T-Shirts, to provide support to those in need.
The Ongoing Situation
For now, it seems that all beaches on the Northern Beaches will be closed indefinitely, as the Council says water conditions are continuously under review on an ongoing basis. The situation is being closely monitored, and the Council will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, the community is coming together to support those affected by the incidents, and to raise awareness about the importance of shark safety and water quality.
