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The brave man gives a thumbs up as he arrived at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital by rescue chopper. Picture: Peter Lorimer
A SURFER has been attacked by what is believed to be a great white shark at Seven Mile Beach on the NSW mid-north coast.
The 65-year-old was surfing at Bulls Paddock in the Booti Booti national park area, south of Forster, when a shark bit him and his board at around 9am on Thursday.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the area following reports the man had suffered a deep deep laceration to his leg and puncture wounds to his foot and hand. His surfboard was snapped in half with large teeth marks and indentations.
The shark is believed to have been between 2.5-3.5 metres, with experts assessing photographs of the wounds and the man’s board to confirm the species.
The man’s surfboard was snapped in half, with huge bites taken out of it. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
He suffered a deep laceration to his leg and puncture wounds to his foot and hand. Picture: Benny Godwin/FacebookSource:Facebook
According to police, the man swam to shore and contacted emergency services himself.
He was met by paramedics at the Pacific Palms Bowling Club where he treated, then airlifted to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital where he will be treated for his wounds.
A Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman has described the leg injury as “severeâ€.
Seven Mile Beach had been closed until further notice, along with surrounding beaches including Booti Booti, Boomer and Elizabeth beaches, according to the Department of Primary Industries, which is assisting NSW Surf Life Saving and police.
Seven Mile Beach will be closed until further notice.
Sharks are regularly seen in the area but there hasn’t been an attack at Bulls Paddock before, according to Coastalwatch. The last incident in the area was a non-fatal attack on a surfer in 2009 at Sandbar, 25 kilometres south of today’s attack.