Surfer critically injured by shark off Australian town where Japanese tourist

Sharks are a regular feature in Australian waters, and swimmers and surfers have had their share of encounters with the animals this year, with the most recent attack in April west of Adelaide, in southern Australia.

A 4m great white was spotted by a helicopter and rescue boats after the attack on Lee.

Ballina Shire Council mayor David Wright, said the mood in the town was sombre.

Meanwhile, organisers of a junior surfing event at Lennox Head have delayed the start of the event this morning to ensure the safety of the more than 300 competitors.

“At the moment we’re going ahead at 9am, because this is honestly monumental – it’s a six-day tournament… there’s 15 different countries represented”, he said.

“There’s no way we can actually tell, but a 20km [12 miles] distance … that’s not very much for a shark”.

Witnesses said the shark was about 7 feet long.

“That was probably the scariest point”.

“He just said it took forever for them to come and get him”, the man said.

His two friends pulled Mr Lee from the water, using leg ropes to stop the bleeding, as locals tried to help. He was treated on the beach by paramedics before being flown to hospital.

A section 37 notice was issued by the Department of Primary Industries permitting the capture or killing of a protected species.

Though authorities continue their search for the shark, a planned surfing competition taking place 10 kilometers north of the attack site will go forward if the great white is not found by first light.

Locals say large pods of dolphins have also been seen close to shore, chasing fish.

However today’s competition of the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open was cancelled after another shark attack at nearby Lennox Point, just 10km from where body boarder Mathew Lee was mauled yesterday at Lighthouse beach.