A 12-year-old boy attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour remains alive in hospital but is brain-dead and will never wake up.

Nico Antic was jumping into the water from a six-metre rock ledge at Nielsen Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at about 4.20pm on Sunday when he was mauled by a suspected bull shark.

Both his legs were severely injured in the attack, and he survived only because one of his five friends jumped in and dragged him onto the rocks while the predator swam nearby.

Despite reports on Wednesday claiming Nico died, a close family member has now confirmed to the Daily Mail that he still alive in hospital.

Police have also confirmed Nico’s condition at Sydney Children’s Hospital remains unchanged.

‘He is still asleep, but will not be able to make it because his brain is completely unresponsive,’ the relative said.

They said Nico was a talented sports player who was always making people smile.

‘He is a sporty kid and never fails to put a smile on people’s faces,’ they recalled.

Nico Antic (pictured) was a talented soccer player who represented his club in international tournaments

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Nico Antic (pictured with his dad) is alive in hospital, but he will never wake up again

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Pictured: Emergency workers in Vaucluse on Sunday, when Nico was bitten by a shark

‘He is loved by many friends and family.’

Family friend Victor Pineiro set up a fundraiser on Tuesday to help the family cover expenses.

‘Nico was attacked by a shark on Sunday in Sydney Harbour and sustained life-threatening injuries,’ he said, describing it as the ‘worst possible outcome’.

Friends on social media said Nico’s extended family live overseas and will have to travel to Australia to say their goodbyes.

Goal Soccer Academy in Rose Bay wrote on social media that Nico had been playing with them for seven years.

‘Nico has been part of the Goal family for seven years, a talented and dedicated sportsman,’ the soccer club said.

The academy also said Nico represented the club in tournaments, including the Sydney International Cup.

Another family friend, Trish, shared a link to the fundraiser on Facebook with the caption: ‘My heart hurts.’

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Nico Antic is a talented athlete who has represented his soccer club internationally

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Nico Antic (pictured on his first day of school) is in a critical condition in hospital

A third family friend said: ‘Please donate. This is a family I know and they are going through an unimaginably hard time.’

Nico was the first victim of four shark attacks on NSW coastlines within the last three days.

On Monday, an 11-year-old boy had an encounter with another shark, which took a large bite out of his surfboard in Dee Why, near Manly in Sydney’s northern suburbs.

That same evening, Andre de Ruyter, 27, was attacked by a bull shark while surfing in Manly, in Sydney’s northern suburbs.

He was rushed to hospital with critical leg injuries.

On Tuesday, a 39‑year‑old was attacked at Point Plomer on the NSW Mid North Coast.

The shark bit through the man’s wetsuit and took a chunk out of his board. He reportedly drove himself to Kempsey District Hospital.