A surfer has been bitten by a shark, marking the fourth attack along Australia's New South Wales (NSW) coastline in under 48 hours.
The 39-year-old man sustained minor cuts after a shark bit through his surfboard near Crescent Head on Tuesday morning. Currently hospitalized, he is reported to be in stable condition.
This alarming series follows three other attacks in Sydney within the past two days, prompting authorities to close all beaches in the northern area of Sydney until further notice, as per police reports.
These attacks come in the wake of heavy rains that may have created a perfect storm environment for shark encounters, filling the water with nutrients and drawing the sharks closer to shore, as stated by NSW Superintendent Joseph McNulty.
The recent attack took place near Point Plomer campground, situated about 450km (279 miles) north of Sydney. Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce indicated that the surfer was fortunate not to have suffered any serious injuries. He strongly advised against swimming or surfing near river mouths, areas known for shark activity.
This week has seen a young surfer narrowly escape at Dee Why Beach, while a more severe incident at Manly left a 27-year-old facing life-changing injuries. In another case, a 12-year-old boy was critically injured at a popular Sydney Harbour beach.
Authorities suspect bull sharks were involved in several of these incidents. Recognized as one of the few potentially dangerous shark species, bull sharks rank as the third deadliest according to the International Shark Attack File.
Despite Australia’s reputation as a shark attack hotspot, the actual likelihood of encountering a shark is still minimal. In light of the recent weather causing poorer water quality and visibility, police have urged the public to avoid waterways in NSW.
Superintendent McNulty advised caution: I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time.
