After being rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital in critical condition, he underwent surgery to amputate his lower right leg.

His family has described him as a “survivor” in a recent update.

“He’s just managed to come off the breathing tube and is showing remarkable healing,” his family shared on social media.

“Doctors are noticing more positive signs in his recovery, although they caution that a long journey lies ahead.”

The family expressed gratitude to blood donors, noting he required 13 bags of blood.

They also shared an image of his hospital wall adorned with photos, including one of his dog, Luna, visiting him.

The family started an online fundraiser for prosthetics and rehabilitation to support his recovery, which has already raised more than $16,900. 

In the 48 hours that followed, Ruyter was bitten by a suspected bull shark, the same day as an 11-year-old boy’s surfboard was bitten by a shark at Dee Why Beach.

The attacks were attributed to previous wild weather considered a “once-in-a-500-year event”, which created the perfect environment for bull sharks to lurk in coastal waters around Sydney and wider NSW.

The heavy rain caused unusually high levels of freshwater to run through rivers and estuaries into saltwater systems and beaches, creating brackish water.

Bull sharks are one of the few species of sharks that can tolerate brackish waters.

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