What happened during the Manly Beach shark attack?

A 27-year-old musician was attacked by a shark at Manly Beach, suffering critical leg injuries and leaving a pool of blood in the water.

Who is Max White and what was his involvement?

Max White, a news reporter, was at Manly Beach and heard the screams about the shark attack. He helped keep the victim awake until emergency services arrived.

How many shark attacks have occurred recently in Sydney?

As of January 20, 2026, there have been at least four shark attacks along the NSW coast within a short period, including incidents at Manly, Nielsen Park, Dee Why, and Point Plomer.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Reporter Describes 'Red Wave' During Manly Shark Attack

Reporter Describes 'Red Wave' During Manly Shark Attack

20 Jan

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Summary

Surfer attacked by shark at Manly Beach, leaving a trail of blood.
Reporter Max White heard screams about a surfer 'bleeding out'.
Multiple shark encounters occurred across Sydney beaches recently.

Reporter Describes 'Red Wave' During Manly Shark Attack

A harrowing shark attack at Manly Beach on Monday evening saw a surfer hospitalized with critical leg injuries. Reporter Max White recounted hearing frantic screams from tourists about a man 'bleeding out' in the water, with waves visibly turning red.

White had planned to surf but was warned off by friends due to recent shark activity. Approximately 20 minutes later, the attack on Andre de Ruyter, 27, occurred. Other surfers paddled de Ruyter back to shore, where a tourniquet was applied before emergency services arrived.

This incident was the third shark attack in Sydney within 48 hours. A 12-year-old boy suffered severe leg injuries at Nielsen Park on Sunday, and an 11-year-old had his surfboard bitten at Dee Why on Monday. A fourth attack occurred at Point Plomer on Tuesday.