A 32-year old man is in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark and sustaining serious leg injuries.
Emergency services were called to Lighthouse beach on the NSW North Coast at 10am this morning after original reports that a 25-year old man had been bitten on both legs, an Ambulance NSW spokesperson says.
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter has since transported the man to Gold Coast Hospital where he is in a critical condition. It is believed the man suffered severe blood loss in the incident.
Ballina mayor David Wright heard the news about the shark attack while helping to set up for the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open, a junior surfing event due to start tomorrow.
“To hear this … it’s really difficult,” he told The Northern Star.
“There are jet boats out at the moment having a look for the shark.”
It is not known yet whether the event will go ahead in light of today’s incident.
Sixteen-year-old Peter Edmonds from Wollongbar was killed when he was attacked while bodyboarding with a friend at the same beach in 2008.
Earlier this year, Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara, 41, was attacked and killed at nearby Shelly Beach.
All beaches within Ballina Shire will be closed for the next 24 hours.
