Surfers and swimmers have been invited to return to the water to honour a schoolboy who died after being attacked by a shark.
Nico Antic died on Saturday after sustaining critical injuries when he was bitten near a popular swimming spot at Vaucluse.
To commemorate the 12-year-old, his school, Rose Bay Secondary College, has organised a community paddle out to be held on Sunday morning at North Bondi.
“Nico was a happy, vibrant and social young person – widely known and deeply loved by a large network of friends,” the school said in a statement shared on social media.
“He brought warmth, energy and kindness to those around him and will be remembered for the joy he shared so freely.
“Nico will be deeply missed.”
The school also highlighted Nico’s sporting achievements, noting he held the college’s 12 years 800m athletics record.
In 2025, students at the college were asked to choose a personal value they wished to be identified by.
Nico chose bravery.
His parents remembered their son as a “happy, friendly and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit”, while his rugby club, the Easts Junior Beasties, described him as fearless and “forever tough”.
Nico was one of four people attacked by sharks off NSW beaches over a two-day period, and his death marked the first fatal shark attack inside Sydney Harbour in more than 60 years.
Surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, was also fatally bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Long Reef beach in September.
In response to the recent incidents, an additional $4.2 million has been allocated to NSW beach safety programs, including shark tagging and monitoring, as well as the installation of listening stations in the harbour.
Drone patrols will also be extended to operate seven days a week through to the end of the April school holidays, covering an additional 30 beaches in Sydney and along the NSW coast.
Images: GoFundMe
