By Robyn Wuth

Long-range drone technology, tagging and shark-listening stations will be boosted on NSW beaches following a spate of attacks.

Swimmers remain on red alert after four attacks on NSW beaches, three of them in Sydney, including one that claimed the life of a boy who was mauled by a shark while swimming with friends.

Nico Antic sustained critical injuries to his legs after being bitten near a popular swimming spot at Vaucluse, in the city’s east.

After clinging to life for almost a week, the 12-year-old died on Saturday.

Nico’s death led to an outpouring of tributes for a boy described as “tough and fearless”  by his teammates at the Easts Junior Beasties rugby club, who are raising money to support his grieving family.

“Small in stature but as gutsy as they come, Nico played anywhere asked of him, always with a smile on his face,” the club said.

His coaches described him as “the kind of player who would run through a wall for his team and his teammates” and he would be remembered as fearless and “forever tough”.

Nico’s death was the first fatal shark attack inside Sydney Harbour in more than 60 years.

The spate of attacks have prompted a $4.2 million boost to NSW beach safety programs, including shark tagging and monitoring and installation of listening stations in the harbour.

Drone patrols will be extended to seven days a week through to the end of the April school holidays, covering 30 more beaches in Sydney and along the NSW coast.

NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said keeping people safe was the government’s priority.

“This funding will help expand drone surveillance, improve education and ensure timely warnings, so swimmers and surfers can make informed decisions about when to enter the water,” she said.

“There’s no single solution and no government can ever promise to make the water completely safe, which is why we’re using a range of tools to keep people informed and as safe as possible.”

Surf Life Saving NSW said the funding boost would help keep swimmers safe after 461 sharks were spotted by drone operators across 2025/26.

“This new package represents a 90 per cent increase on our current shark surveillance drone program,” chief executive Steve Pearce said.

The funding will also be used to research bull shark movement in Sydney Harbour.

All NSW beaches are expected to be open for the Australia Day holiday despite the attacks.