Another shark sighting has forced the closure of Bondi Beach, as the victim of a recent horrific attack at a popular nearby beach speaks her first emotional words after coming out of a coma.

The sighting early on Wednesday morning was reported by NSW SharkSmart, which posted on X that Bondi lifeguards had advised of the beach closure.

Swimmers and surfers rushed to get out of the water as the alarm sounded, according to several media reports.

Bondi Beach lifeguards advise that Bondi Beach is currently closed due to shark sighting, 24 Jun 2026. Please be #SharkSmart

— SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) June 23, 2026

Drone Shark App posted a video on social media showing a shark it identified as a great white swimming near surfers before the siren was activated.

“As you’ll see in this clip, I tried to alert a few people using my flashing drone light,” the caption said.

“At that time of the morning, it’s the quickest and most effective way to warn those in the water.”

Surfing World Magazine also posted a video of the beach on Wednesday morning, commenting that it was “wild to see Sydney’s Most populous beach empty”.

A day earlier, Drone Shark App shared another video of a shark at Bondi Beach, which it said was also a great white. It suggested it may have been drawn to salmon gathering along the beach.

“The lifeguards did a great job responding quickly and sounding the alarm to help keep everyone safe,” the post said.

The sightings have reignited tensions regarding sharks off Sydney’s coast, coming less than two weeks after Sydney woman Leah Stewart was dragged from the water after a shark attack close to shore at nearby Coogee Beach on June 14.

Leah Stewart has been described as a loving mum and passionate teacher. Photo: Supplied

The 35-year-old teacher and mother of a one-year-old daughter has spent more than a week on life support and undergone multiple surgeries – including an arm amputation – but briefly regained consciousness on Tuesday after more than a week in a coma.

“This allowed Leah to share her first words ‘I love you’ with her mum and partner Fernando who have been by her side in ICU since the incident,” her brother Joshua Stewart wrote on a fundraising page.

“Her first thoughts were with her daughter August and [she] wanted to check she was OK.

“This is a lot faster than anyone expected, and for us this feels like a miracle and is everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for over the past week.”

Joshua Stewart said his sister remained in intensive care and would have to undergo further surgeries in the coming weeks.

“Leah has a long road ahead and still remains in critical care, but this is such a positive first step and gives us hope for Leah’s long-term recovery.”

A fundraiser page set up to fund Stewart’s medical procedures and aid her family has garnered almost $500,000 in donations.

Stewart’s attack reignited calls to cull shark populations to protect swimmers, but NSW Premier Chris Minns said the great white shark population cannot be targeted as it is protected.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has granted a temporary exemption for aerial surveillance of Coogee Beach in the wake of the attack.

The beach is about eight kilometres from Sydney Airport.

Shark nets, which are temporarily removed during the winter whale migration season, will be reinstalled at the start of September.

–with AAP