By Miriah Davis, ABC News
Emergency services were called to Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Vaucluse about 4.20pm (AEST) on Sunday. Photo: ABC News / Nick Dole
The quick response from the friends of a 12-year-old boy critically injured in a shark attack at a Sydney beach saved the boy's life, police say.
Emergency services were called to Hermitage Foreshore Walk near Shark Beach at Vaucluse about 4.20pm on Sunday.
He sustained critical injuries to both legs and was taken to the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick for treatment and is in intensive care.
Marine Area Command commander Superintendent Joseph McNulty said on Monday "every second counted" and the quick response by the boy's friends helped the boy survive the attack.
"The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave, a gallant, recovery from his mates there," he said.
McNulty said after being initially helped by those around him, the boy was pulled aboard a vessel by water police officers, who attached two medical tourniquets and administered first aid.
He said it was a "textbook recovery".
"He's in for the fight of his life now and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance," Superintendent Mcnulty said.
"It was a horrendous scene at the time when police attended. We believe it was something like a bull shark that attacked the lower limbs of that boy yesterday."
He said heavy rainfall over the weekend may have contributed to the attack.
"At the time yesterday, the boys were jumping off a 6-metre rock that's popular in the Vaucluse area into that brackish water," he said.
"We believe the combination of the brackish water, the fresh water, the actions of the splashing, may have made that perfect storm environment for that shark attack yesterday.
"But thankfully what I can say - that boy is fighting for his life now."
They also said that he was rescued from the water by police officers "within minutes" of the triple-0 call being made.
Footage from the scene showed him being treated by paramedics in a blue police rescue tent.
- ABC
