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Nico Antic, the 12-year-old boy attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour, has been confirmed as brain-dead by his family in a devastating update(Image: GoFundMe)

Loved ones of the 12-year-old boy who was mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour on Sunday have given a devastating update on his condition in the wake of the horror attack.

The child, named in the Australian press as Nico Antic, was at the beach with friends on Sunday at the unfortunately named Shark Beach in Sydney Harbour. The boys were jumping off rocks at the end of the beach in Sydney when he was attacked by a suspected bull shark.

The shark attack was the first in a string of four other maulings that have followed in the days after Nico was hospitalised.

First responders were at the scene within minutes on Sunday and have since praised Nico’s friends for their bravery, with the children entering the water to pull him to safety. Nico was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.

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Paramedics and police at the scene of the shark attack on Sunday in Sydney Harbour(Image: Sky News)

Both his legs were severely injured in the attack, with doctors and surgeons trying their utmost to save the boy, who underwent emergency surgery on Sunday night.

His family have since shared Nico’s grim prognosis, telling the Daily Mail that he has been in a coma since the catastrophic attack.

His sister, Sophie shared her family’s heartbreak, telling the Daily Mail Nico is “still asleep, but will not be able to make it because his brain is completely unresponsive”.

Sophie added: “He is a sporty kid and never fails to put a smile on people’s faces. He is loved by many friends and family.”

The sad update comes only a day after family friend Victor Piñeiro set up a GoFundMe campaign to support the Antic family. He issued a similarly bleak update on Tuesday on Nico’s condition alongside the fundraiser to help his family through such an impossible time.

“Despite all efforts, this heartbreaking event has led to the worst possible outcome,” he wrote. “We are raising funds to help the Antic family cover upcoming expenses and related arrangements during this incredibly difficult time.”

About 1,700 people have donated to the family so far, and, as of 2.30pm local time, had raised just more than AUD$122,000 (£61,000).

Nico was the first victim of a spate of shark attacks across the Australian state of New South Wales in the days that followed. Swimming spots on NSW’s northern beaches were closed yesterday to both surfers and swimmers for 48 hours after a 39-year-old man became the fourth person mauled since Sunday.

On Monday, a 27-year-old man suffered critical injuries after being bitten at North Steyne Beach in Manly, on Sydney’s northern beaches. NSW Police say the man has sustained “life-changing injuries” in the attack and he remains in critical condition following surgery. And, in another attack on Monday, another surfer escaped without injury after a shark took a chunk out of his surfboard at Dee Why Beach on NSW’s northern beaches.

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File image of a bull shark, which are known for their aggression.  (Image: Getty Images/Image Source)

Shark experts say conditions in NSW at the moment – warm ocean temperatures and dirty water from recent storms – are providing perfect conditions for bull shark activity.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said to Australian national broadcaster the ABC: “Anytime after a big weather event there’s always going to be a lot of run-off and out flow of creeks into the ocean and river mouths. We really strongly advocate that nobody swim or surf near river mouths because it’s obviously an area where sharks congregate. If it’s dirty water I’d think twice about going in there.”

Peace added: “We have such poor water quality that’s conducive to bull shark activity … [so] just go to a local pool, because at this stage, we’re advising that the beaches are unsafe.”