A surfer has been hospitalised following a shark attack off the New South Wales coast, marking a alarming fourth incident in just three days along the state's shoreline.
Details of the Latest Attack
The latest victim, a 39-year-old man, was bitten near the Point Plomer campground, less than 20 kilometres from Port Macquarie, on Tuesday morning. He was transported to hospital in a stable condition, suffering what have been described as minor injuries.
Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, confirmed the man escaped serious harm and was recovering from minor cuts and grazes. Emergency services were swiftly activated following the incident, which occurred just after 10am.
Donna Wishart, a communications manager for Surf Life Saving NSW, stated that drone surveillance and lifeguard teams were immediately deployed to the area near Crescent Head. Lifeguards travelled to the beach on jetskis as a precautionary measure.
A Spate of Incidents Forces Beach Closures
This attack is part of a concerning cluster of encounters. The Port Macquarie Australian Lifeguard Service announced the closure of beaches between Town Beach and Crescent Head following what it termed a "shark bite incident at Point Plomer".
The recent spate of attacks includes three other serious incidents:
- A 12-year-old boy remains in hospital after being bitten near Sydney's Neilson Park on Sunday.
- An 11-year-old surfer had his board bitten by a shark at Dee Why on Monday.
- A man believed to be in his 20s is in a critical condition after being attacked at Manly Beach on Monday evening.
Consequently, all beaches in Sydney's Northern Beaches are closed until at least Thursday, with many in the Vaucluse area also shut.
Experts Point to Dangerous Conditions
Marine experts have linked the increased shark activity to recent heavy rainfall. The downpours have created brackish and murky conditions in Sydney Harbour and along the coastline, which are known to attract sharks and the bait fish they prey upon.
NSW Police have urged the public to avoid entering the water under these hazardous conditions. The NSW Department of Primary Industries is aware of the latest incident and is expected to release a formal statement.
The NSW SharkSmart program officially logged the event as a "shark incident". This cluster of attacks has put authorities and beachgoers on high alert, underscoring the unpredictable nature of marine environments after significant weather events.
