A surfer on the NSW Mid-North Coast escaped serious injury after being bitten by a shark in the fourth confirmed shark attack on the state’s coastline in the past 48 hours.
The 39-year-old was surfing at Point Plomer, near Crescent Head, this morning when a shark bit into his board.
He was taken to Kempsey District Hospital with minor cuts and abrasions to one leg.
A spokesperson for the Mid North Coast Local Health District confirmed the 39-year-old man had since been released from hospital.
Local surfers said they saw what appeared to be bull sharks in the water at the time of the attack.
Shark surveillance drones have been deployed in the area.
Port Macquarie-Hastings ALS Lifeguards have announced that Port Macquarie’s beaches from Town Beach to Crescent Head Beach have been closed.
Surfer: “I’m very lucky”
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said the surfer was lucky to be alive and was now recovering at Kempsey District Hospital.
“This area is known for having shark activity,” he told the ABC.
”[He’s] I am extremely lucky that I did not sustain any serious injuries. ”
Mr Pearce said the area where the man was attacked was isolated and had no netting or smart drumlines installed.
“After any major weather event, there is a large amount of runoff or runoff of streams into the ocean or estuaries.
“We strongly urge no one to swim or surf near the estuary, as this is clearly a shark gathering area.
”If the water is dirty, I would think twice about going into it.”
Kempsey Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club captain Matt Worrall said the surfer was lucky to escape with only minor injuries.
“It looks like the surfboard took most of the impact,” he said.
“We have received reports that he reached the shore on his own with the help of locals.
“An ambulance was not called and he was taken to the hospital on his own.”
A 39-year-old man was surfing at Point Plomer. (National Parks and Wildlife Service)
Mr Worrall said local lifeguards were confused by the recent spate of shark attacks.
“We all have our own theories about what’s going on,” he said.
“Personally, I haven’t seen as many sharks this season compared to other seasons.
“We think it has something to do with freshwater pushing the sharks out of the river system.”
Crescent Head-based surfing instructor Dundee Sinclair said she was troubled by the recent incidents.
“It’s a little spooky at the moment,” he said.
Mr Sinclair was surfing on a beach about 5km from Point Plomer at the time of the attack.
“The shark alarm went off and then the surf lifesaving drone fell on me,” he said.
“I gave them a thumbs up and went in.
“We had to get out of the water a few times this summer, probably five or six times.”
surfer seriously injured
A 27-year-old man was seriously injured after being bitten by a shark at Manly’s North Steyne Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches just after 6pm on Monday.
Police said the man suffered “life-changing injuries” and remained in a serious condition following surgery.
Swimming spots on northern beaches have been closed to surfers and swimmers for the next 48 hours following a spate of shark attacks.
Early Monday morning, a young surfer escaped unharmed After a shark bit off part of a surfboard at Dee Why Beach on the northern beaches.
The incident occurred less than a day after the boy was left in critical condition with injuries to both legs. Suspected bull shark attack Near Shark Beach in Vaucluse.