Man bitten by shark on NSW central coast

“We think he’s landed on top of the shark”, he said. An Australian surfer has revealed his fright at being bitten by a shark during a morning dip today, the latest in a string of attacks which has prompted calls for action. “I just wanted to get out of there basically”, he said.

The man was knocked into the water but was able to make it to the beach safely.

“I wasn’t out on the outer bank, a reef or a deep water area”.

After he made it back to safety on dry land, Mr Quinlivan was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for emergency surgery. “I saw the tail and the fin”. The surfer estimated the shark was about 2½ metres long.

Sharks are common off Australia’s beaches, but fatal attacks are rare.

The 65-year-old retired firefighter and champion surf lifesaver was “bitten to the bone” by the Great White, according to reports.

Wyong Beach superintendant Trevor Roberts said the man had only just entered the water and was about four metres offshore when the attack occurred.

He says he swam back to his board and then paddled quickly to shore.

Ms Lyons was amazed by Mr Quinlivan’s bravery, saying, ‘I just couldn’t believe how strong (he was)’. No sharks have been spotted off the coast since the attack, the SLSA spokeswoman said. The Baird government last month ruled out any cull of great whites, turning instead to science in the face of the “alarming” jump in shark sightings along the NSW north coast.