At a Glance
- A 27-year-old surfer was bitten by a shark at North Steyne Beach on January 19.
- He sustained severe leg injuries, underwent a partial lower-leg amputation, and is now in intensive care.
- The incident is the fourth shark attack on the NSW coast this month.
- Why it matters: The attack highlights ongoing shark-surfing risks and the rapid response of local lifeguards.
Andre de Ruyter was surfing at North Steyne Beach on January 19 when a shark bit his right leg. The 27-year-old, a musician who often plays along Sydney’s northern beaches, was pulled from the water by fellow surfers and received immediate first aid before emergency services arrived.
The Attack and Immediate Response
At about 6:20 p.m. local time, the New South Wales Police released a statement saying de Ruyter was “pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of emergency services.”
Two surfers, Ash and Eduardo, were riding waves when they heard de Ruyter’s frantic cries. Ash recalled to 10 News:
> “He sort of paused to catch his breath and then the shouting started. He’s just going ‘Shark! Shark! Shark! Shark!’ and bouncing up and down, like, as I looked over and it was so animated I thought it was just a terrible joke.”
Ash added:
> “Then he starts shouting, ‘No joke, no joke! It’s biting me, it’s biting me! It’s eating me, it’s eating me! It’s killing me!'” He noted that de Ruyter was trying to shake off the shark’s latch on his right leg.
Moments later, the surfers saw blood in the water and the shark’s tail flipped above the surface. Ash described the scene as “out of a horror movie” and said they used their surfboards to bring de Ruyter to shore.
> “With each wave, we slowly moved closer and closer to shore. I told him not to look back, don’t look at your leg, just keep paddling. He said to me, ‘Tourniquet, tourniquet, tourniquet.’ He saved himself in a way. I started screaming it.”
Despite his injuries, de Ruyter managed to paddle himself back to shore, maintaining a “death grip” on the board and losing a significant amount of blood in the water.
First-Aid on the Beach
When de Ruyter reached the shore, Sarah Lally, a volunteer surf lifesaver, rushed to the scene. She reported to The Daily Telegraph:
> “I grabbed the big red first aid bag, oxygen and a defibrillator and ran straight down to the beach. When I got there I quickly assessed the situation and put on a proper tourniquet from the medical kit. He was unresponsive with shallow breathing so I started CPR.”
Lally continued:
> “After 10 cycles of CPR we put the defibrillator on which analysed him and said no shock was required. I then rotated to the surfer’s head and began administering oxygen and started rotating the people through the CPR.”
A nearby trauma expert, Dr. Brian Burns of Royal North Shore Hospital, was also present and prepared de Ruyter for a transfusion of blood and fluids to support the CPR.
> “The lifeguards and the volunteer from the surf club were doing a great job. We all worked together as a team. It is a privilege to be a part of this community. He received the very best care he could from our trauma system.”
Tracy Hare-Boyd, the on-call officer and chief executive of Surf Life Saving on the Northern Beaches, added:
> “He bled out in the water and there was no blood on the sand. He desperately needed more blood and fluids to keep him alive.”
Hospital Care and Family Update
On January 20, authorities confirmed that de Ruyter had part of his lower leg amputated and remains in intensive care. The 27-year-old was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
In a statement obtained by the Manly Observer, his mother expressed gratitude:
> “We would like to express our gratitude to all the brave first responders to our son Andre relating to the shark attack at Manly Beach [Monday]. Andre de Ruyter, our compassionate, talented musician, graphic artist and lover of surfing has been placed in a stable condition with wonderful attentive medical staff. We ask for positive energy around his recovery and will give more information when he is ready.”
Context: Shark Attacks on the NSW Coast
The incident marks the fourth shark attack on the New South Wales coast this month. Local officials and surf clubs continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and preparedness for surfers and beachgoers.
Key Takeaways
- A 27-year-old surfer, Andre de Ruyter, was bitten by a shark at North Steyne Beach on January 19.
- He sustained severe leg injuries, underwent a partial lower-leg amputation, and is now in intensive care.
- Rapid action by fellow surfers, volunteer lifesavers, and hospital staff likely saved his life.
- The attack is part of a troubling pattern of shark incidents along the NSW coast this month.
Why it matters: The case underscores the ongoing risk of shark encounters for beach users and the critical role of immediate first aid and emergency response in saving lives.
