The heartbroken parents of a shark attack victim have remembered him as a boy who ‘loved life’ as friends and supporters took part in a mass paddle-out to mourn the young surfer.
Holding and surrounding the family of 12-year-old Nico Antic, more than 100 people took part in the early morning commemoration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Locals lined the sands of the famous beach for the event, which took place just over a week after the keen rugby player died from injuries sustained during the mauling.
Nico, a pincer at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, was seriously injured while swimming with friends near a popular beach in Vaucluse, Sydney’s east, earlier in January.
Dressed in a yellow and red lifesaving surf uniform, his father Juan, along with Nico’s mother, Lorena, addressed the crowd on the shores of North Bondi.
“We love this little boy so much, our Nico. I will miss him forever,” Antic said as he wiped away tears.
“He loved his friends, he loved life. I’m sure he’s watching all of us, so I just want to thank you all for being a part of this for Nico.”
The 12 year old was one of four people attacked by sharks off NSW beaches in two days in January.
His death was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney Harbor in more than 60 years.
Surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, was fatally bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Long Reef beach in September.
Pablo Bardon, who has known the Argentinian-Australian Antic family for 20 years, said it was a very difficult period for the close-knit community as bonds were forged through people’s connection to the water and surfing.
“When you have children it’s very difficult. It’s been an emotional process,” said the father of three.
Bondi Beach had changed dramatically since the nearby shark attack and December 14 terrorist attack that left 15 people dead.
“When I drove down, it didn’t feel great. It’s not the same place,” Bardon said.
The paddle out was organized by Nico’s school, Rose Bay Secondary College, who remembered him as “deeply loved by a large network of friends”.
“He brought warmth, energy and kindness to those around him and will be remembered for the joy he shared so freely,” the school previously said.
For Gus De Notto it was a difficult moment to paddle on his surfboard.
“I feel a very heavy atmosphere and of course it was nice to see people, but unfortunately that will not bring Nico’s life back,” he said.
“He was a super happy kid.”
Additional funding for shark attack prevention
Following the spate of incidents, an additional $4.2 million was added to NSW beach safety programs, including shark tagging and monitoring and the installation of listening stations in the harbour.
Drone patrols will be expanded to seven days a week until the end of the April school holidays, covering a further 30 beaches in Sydney and along the NSW coast.
Australia’s largest ocean swim, the Cole Classic, was due to take place across Manly Harbor on Sunday, but the event was postponed until February 22 to “keep participants safe”.
“Conditions are positive and allowing additional time will further support a safe and enjoyable dive,” organizers said.
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