Australia shuts dozens of east coast beaches after shark attacks
- - Australia shuts dozens of east coast beaches after shark attacks
Alasdair Pal, ReutersJanuary 20, 2026 at 10:18 PM
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Australia shuts dozens of east coast beaches after shark attacks
Dozens of beaches along Australia's east coast, including in Sydney, closed on Tuesday, Jan. 20 after four shark attacks in two days, as heavy rains left waters murky and more likely to attract the animals.
Beaches around Port Macquarie, around 400 km (250 miles) north of Sydney, were shut after a man was bitten while surfing earlier in the day. He remains in hospital in a stable condition, health authorities said.
"If you're thinking about going for a swim, think of going to a local pool because at this stage, we're advising that beaches are unsafe," Steven Pearce, the chief executive of Surf Life Saving New South Wales (NSW) told reporters on Tuesday.
"We have such poor water quality that's really conducive to some bull shark activity."
The closures come in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere summer, when beaches across Australia are normally packed with locals and tourists.
the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. At least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous Bondi Beach, in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident. The government is moving to tighten gun laws across the country.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. At least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous Bondi Beach, in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident. The government is moving to tighten gun laws across the country.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GwsTdFf3GC2UJttTj.glcg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3455db8340f91aa39b731b7b014c886c class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. At least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous Bondi Beach, in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident. The government is moving to tighten gun laws across the country.
">In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. At least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous Bondi Beach, in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident. The government is moving to tighten gun laws across the country.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GwsTdFf3GC2UJttTj.glcg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3455db8340f91aa39b731b7b014c886c class=caas-img>Maddy and Rani embrace as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cq_UtARO07Y1DxpUm_2ueA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ca306db996dc119e12fecb948c9b023 class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
Maddy and Rani embrace as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">Maddy and Rani embrace as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cq_UtARO07Y1DxpUm_2ueA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ca306db996dc119e12fecb948c9b023 class=caas-img>Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cd1zQGQFIipsgg2mUNBY6A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/94f94f52c620e25d95452a86834c483e class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cd1zQGQFIipsgg2mUNBY6A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/94f94f52c620e25d95452a86834c483e class=caas-img>In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4NMnG9JRd_bE9yuRak6rGQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/54d92e6699c6c04d51d56fe47cba4d91 class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4NMnG9JRd_bE9yuRak6rGQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/54d92e6699c6c04d51d56fe47cba4d91 class=caas-img>
In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GHqHbrksZwC7V89cfvr9PA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9484322b2d9af89f1ce45fe8819930bc class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GHqHbrksZwC7V89cfvr9PA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9484322b2d9af89f1ce45fe8819930bc class=caas-img>Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3uthqNwhUd.zfhOHLMk6Lw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4ac7e46839c3284a63ccd84d0c9a804e class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">Hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3uthqNwhUd.zfhOHLMk6Lw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4ac7e46839c3284a63ccd84d0c9a804e class=caas-img>People watch as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ktxz1TwnPLPsUvtHvcZ5GA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1b3e99f70e255f519aa79b6d41bd59d3 class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
People watch as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">People watch as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ktxz1TwnPLPsUvtHvcZ5GA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1b3e99f70e255f519aa79b6d41bd59d3 class=caas-img>A father and son from the Cussen family participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dTddu_kRBIW5hmmvuFLRFw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/95b7bc966a3acdb3cb153c24738c7722 class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
A father and son from the Cussen family participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">A father and son from the Cussen family participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dTddu_kRBIW5hmmvuFLRFw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/95b7bc966a3acdb3cb153c24738c7722 class=caas-img>Mish, right, embraces her friend, Ingrid, as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/gSU2arNFhnNzt_8uw8EACg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c567b70a583bcd1ccf70a32896c37677 class=caas-img data-headline="See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims" data-caption="
Mish, right, embraces her friend, Ingrid, as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
">Mish, right, embraces her friend, Ingrid, as hundreds participate in a paddle-out and swim during sunrise at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting from December 14, on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/gSU2arNFhnNzt_8uw8EACg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c567b70a583bcd1ccf70a32896c37677 class=caas-img>
1 / 10See the massive heart surfers formed to honor the Bondi Beach victims
In this aerial view, members of the Bondi community paddle and swim into the ocean and form a circle to pay respect during a Paddle Out to honour victims, survivors and first responders of the December 14th Bondi Shootings on December 19, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. At least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous Bondi Beach, in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident. The government is moving to tighten gun laws across the country.
Shark attacks
On Monday evening, emergency services were called to a beach in Sydney's Manly after reports a surfer in his 20s had been bitten by a shark. Eyewitness Max White said another surfer had kept the man alive using his board's leg rope as a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding.
"He was breathing, but he was unconscious, and we just ... tried to keep him awake," he told state broadcaster ABC.
Paramedics treated the man for serious leg injuries before taking him to hospital in critical condition.
Also on Monday, a 10-year-old boy escaped unharmed after a shark knocked him off his surfboard and bit a chunk out of it, while a day earlier, another boy was left in critical condition after being bitten at a city beach.
All beaches in the Northern Beaches, a council area straddling Sydney's northern coastline, will remain closed until further notice, police said.
Brackish water
The shark attacks follow days of heavy rain that washed into the harbour and nearby beaches, creating ideal conditions for the bull sharks suspected to be behind some of the attacks. The species thrives in brackish water.
Sharks do not normally attack humans, but the turbid water reduces their visibility and raises the risk of them bumping into something, at which point "they defensively or curiously bite and then bite again", Chris Pepin-Neff, an academic and expert on shark behaviour, wrote in a column in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
Heavy rain also increases sewage runoff, drawing in bait fish that sharks feed on, he added.
Australia sees around 20 shark attacks per year with fewer than three of those being fatalities, according to data from conservation groups. Those numbers are dwarfed by drownings on the country's beaches.
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shark attacks prompt closure of dozens of Australian beaches
Source: “AOL Breaking”
