Surfer attacked by shark on NSW’s mid-north coast in fourth incident in 48 hours | New South Wales

A surfer was taken to hospital after being bitten by a shark off the coast of a campsite in a New South Wales national park, the fourth incident in the state in 48 hours.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District said the 39-year-old man was in a stable condition in hospital with minor injuries following an animal bite. The attack took place nearby Point Plomer campgroundTuesday morning, less than 20km up the coastline from Port Macquarie.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce told the ABC the man escaped serious injury and was recovering with minor cuts and scrapes.

Donna Wishart, communications manager at Surf Life Saving NSW, said the agency had deployed drone surveillance and lifeguard teams to the beach on jet skis in the area near Crescent Head. He confirmed the group was told the man had suffered abrasions on his leg after coming into contact with a shark.

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NSW SharkSmart confirmed there was a “shark incident” at Point Plomer beach just after 10am on Tuesday morning.

Port Macquarie Australian Lifeboat Service said in an Instagram post that beaches between Town beach and Crescent Head were closed due to a “shark bite incident at Point Plomer”.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries was aware of the incident and said it would issue a statement on the matter later in the day.

The Sydney region has seen a number of shark attacks in recent days following heavy rains.

A 12-year-old boy remains in hospital after being bitten near Sydney’s Nielsen Park on Sunday. An 11-year-old surfer had his board bitten off by a shark at Dee Why on Monday and a man thought to be in his 20s remains in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at Manly beach on Monday evening.

Experts say brackish, dark conditions in Sydney Harbor and along the coastline make swimming much more dangerous, attracting sharks and the bait fish they eat. NSW police have urged the public to stay out of the water in such situations.

All beaches on Sydney’s northern beaches are closed until at least Thursday, as are many beaches in the Vaucluse area.

More to come