A surfer has narrowly escaped serious harm after being bitten by a shark off the coast of New South Wales, in what marks the fourth such attack in the state in just 72 hours. The incident has prompted widespread beach closures and urgent safety warnings from authorities.
A Narrow Escape at Point Plomer
The latest attack occurred shortly after 9am on Tuesday at Point Plomer, approximately 460 kilometres north of Sydney. The shark bit through the 39-year-old man's wetsuit and tore a large chunk from his surfboard. Remarkably, the board absorbed the brunt of the impact, leaving the surfer with only minor cuts.
Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club captain, Matt Worrall, confirmed the man managed to paddle back to shore unaided, where he was assisted by locals. He subsequently drove himself to Kempsey District Hospital for treatment and was later discharged.
A Series of Terrifying Incidents
This attack follows three other serious encounters in quick succession, creating a crisis atmosphere along the NSW coastline.
On Monday evening, a 27-year-old surfer suffered life-changing injuries when bitten on the lower leg at North Steyne Beach in Manly. Beachgoers dragged him from the water and performed first aid until paramedics arrived around 6.20pm. He was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition after surgery. It is reported he required 13 units of blood during his initial treatment.
Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was knocked from his board by a large shark at Dee Why Beach. Several bites were taken out of his board, but the boy escaped physically unharmed.
On Sunday afternoon, a 12-year-old boy was bitten while swimming with friends near a jump rock at Shark Beach in Vaucluse, outside the netted area. Australian media reported he sustained catastrophic leg injuries. Police praised his friends' bravery, stating they jumped into the water during the attack to drag him to safety, actions which likely saved his life.
Authorities Respond with Closures and Warnings
In response to the spate of attacks, beaches along the NSW northern coast and Sydney's northern beaches were closed on Tuesday. Authorities have warned they will remain shut to swimmers and surfers for at least 48 hours.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive, Steve Pearce, issued a stark warning, citing poor water quality from recent rainfall. "We have such poor water quality that's really conducive to bull shark activity," he said. "At this stage, we're advising that beaches are unsafe." Shark biologists suspect a bull shark was responsible for the Manly attack, based on a 15cm bite mark on the victim's board.
Electronic drumlines have been deployed off the Sydney coastline to alert authorities to the presence of large sharks. The scene of the latest attack at Point Plomer is isolated and does not have protective shark netting.
This cluster of incidents has reignited concerns about shark safety in a region still mindful of fatal attacks last year, including the death of a 57-year-old surfer near Dee Why in September and a Swiss tourist in November.
