23 Aug 2015

Bodyboarder attacked by shark at NSW beach

7:49 am on 23 August 2015

A man has life-threatening injuries after he was attacked by a shark on the New South Wales coast.

The 36-year-old was bodyboarding with a friend near Port Macquarie when he was attacked about 5pm yesterday.

He was helped out of the water at Lighthouse Beach and treated at the scene by paramedics for stomach and back injuries which are considered life-threatening.

The man was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital and was expected to be flown to Sydney, according to Surf Life Saving New South Wales.

Beaches in the area have been closed for 24 hours.

Four beaches in the Evans Head and Ballina area were closed earlier this month following the sixth attack in the region in less than a year.

Surf Life Savers Emergency Coordinator Jimmy Keogh said the decision was made due to large quantities of bait fish in the area.

The string of shark attacks prompted claims the State Government failed to protect beachgoers.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) sent a staff member to Port Macquarie to identify the shark type from the bite pattern and forensic information.

The DPI said $100,000 has been put aside to trial new preventative measures, but it could still take many more months for trials to begin and be adopted permanently.