NSW beaches remain closed after body boarder mauled by shark

“It’s estimated the shark was about 2.7 metres in length”.

It is believed the 36-year-old male received lacerations to his leg while body boarding at dusk and is now in a stable condition at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Doctors from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service landed at Port Macquarie at 6.30pm and were assessing the man before he was due to be flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for urgent surgery on Saturday night.

CSIRO experts and researchers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries are working with Surf Life Saving representatives, police, councils and Southern Cross University on a shark tagging program across the North Coast. On July 31, Evans Head resident Craig Ison was knocked from his board and mauled by a great white during an early morning surf.

A few weeks before, bodyboarder Matthew Lee was attacked by a shark at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach, suffering serious injuries to his lower legs. Some Ballina surfers and fishermen have called for a shark cull.

All beaches in Port Macquarie have been closed until further notice.

David Wright said the $1,000 tags will allow authorities to monitor the sharks for up to 10 years.

The effectiveness of culling was questionable, while shark nets trapped other sea life, he said.

The local man reportedly saw the shark coming before it bit him on the left thigh.

“You can virtually see them in the breakers”.