Dee Why is in the news right now because of a serious shark incident involving a young surfer, plus memories of a recent fatal attack at the same stretch of coast.

Dee Why Shark – Quick Scoop

What just happened?

  • On 19 January 2026, an 11‑year‑old boy surfing with his dad at Dee Why Point on Sydney’s Northern Beaches was knocked off his board when a shark lunged from below and bit a chunk out of it.
  • Other surfers and his father helped him back to shore and, incredibly, he was unharmed, though the board had a bite mark of about 10–15 cm missing from the rail.
  • Lifeguards immediately sounded the shark alarm, cleared the water, and closed Dee Why Beach, using a jet ski and drones to monitor for further shark activity.
  • Authorities believe the animal was likely a juvenile bull shark, with a tagged bull shark detected on a nearby receiver at North Narrabeen earlier that night.

“A young surfer narrowly escaped injury when a shark bit off a piece of his surfboard at Dee Why on Sydney's Northern Beaches.”

Recent fatal attack at Dee Why

  • The 2026 scare comes only months after a fatal attack in September 2025, when a 57‑year‑old experienced surfer was mauled by a “large” shark off Long Reef Beach, near Dee Why.
  • He suffered catastrophic injuries, including the loss of several limbs, and could not be revived despite efforts from fellow surfers and emergency services.
  • Beaches from Manly to Narrabeen were closed for at least 24 hours, with Dee Why itself shut for up to 72 hours while drones, jet skis, and shark experts worked the area.
  • The attack sent shockwaves through the local surf community; friends described it as a “terrible tragedy” and said surfers would be nervous getting back in the water for a while.

Beach closures and safety response

  • After incidents like these, standard protocol on the Northern Beaches is to close the affected beach for at least 24 hours, sometimes longer if risk is considered elevated.
  • In both the 2025 fatality and the 2026 near‑miss, authorities deployed drones, jet skis, and smart drumlines, and coordinated between Surf Life Saving NSW, local council, and state shark scientists.
  • On the day of the 2026 board‑bite, most Northern Beaches were already shut due to hazardous surf, which helped keep overall numbers in the water low.

Why this is trending now

  • The phrase “Dee Why shark” is trending because people are connecting the boy’s narrow escape in January 2026 with the fatal Dee Why/Long Reef attack in September 2025 and a cluster of shark incidents around Sydney (including a critically injured 12‑year‑old at Vaucluse’s Shark Beach).
  • Video segments from Australian TV news and online posts are circulating, showing the damaged board from Dee Why and re‑sharing coverage of last year’s fatal mauling.
  • Local forums and comment threads often debate shark nets, drumlines, and whether climate or rainfall patterns are drawing sharks closer to shore, especially after authorities noted that brackish, murky water might have contributed to the Vaucluse harbour attack.

Risk, context, and common‑sense precautions

Shark incidents at Dee Why remain rare compared to the huge number of people who swim and surf there each year, but the recent cluster makes them feel very close to home.

If you’re heading to the Northern Beaches:

  1. Check local council and Surf Life Saving NSW alerts for beach closures and shark sightings.
  1. Follow lifeguard instructions and avoid entering the water when beaches are officially closed.
  2. Take extra care after heavy rain or in murky, estuary‑like water, conditions sometimes linked to higher shark activity in recent attacks.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.