A surfer has been hospitalised after being bitten by a shark off Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) coast, marking the fourth shark attack in the region in less than 48 hours and prompting authorities to keep several beaches closed.
The 39-year-old man sustained minor cuts after a shark bit through his surfboard near Crescent Head on Tuesday morning. He was taken to hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. The incident occurred close to the Point Plomer campground, about 450 kilometres north of Sydney.
The latest attack follows three others reported around Sydney over the past two days. As a precaution, police said all beaches in Sydney’s northern area would remain closed until further notice.
Authorities have linked the recent spate of attacks to days of heavy rainfall across the state. New South Wales Superintendent Joseph McNulty earlier said the weather may have created what he described as a “perfect storm environment” for shark encounters. Heavy rains can wash nutrients into coastal waters, attracting fish and, in turn, sharks closer to shore while also reducing water visibility.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce described the Crescent Head victim as “very fortunate” to have escaped without serious injuries. He urged the public to avoid surfing or swimming near river mouths, where sharks are more likely to gather, particularly when water conditions are murky.
“We really strongly advocate that nobody swim or surf near river mouths,” Pearce said, adding that people should think twice about entering the water when visibility is poor.
On Monday, a young surfer narrowly avoided serious harm at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, but a separate attack at nearby Manly left a 27-year-old with what authorities described as “life-changing” injuries. On Sunday, a 12-year-old boy was critically injured in a shark attack at a popular Sydney Harbour beach.
Officials believe bull sharks may have been responsible for several of the recent incidents. Bull sharks are among the few species considered particularly dangerous to humans, according to the Australian Museum, and rank as the third deadliest shark species globally.
Despite Australia being a known hotspot for shark attacks, experts stress that the likelihood of being bitten remains extremely low. Nevertheless, police have advised residents and visitors to avoid waterways across NSW for now due to poor water quality and reduced visibility following the recent weather.
“I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time,” Superintendent McNulty said.
Melissa Enoch
About the Author
