The 44-year-old man was surfing near Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie when a shark launched a “sustained and prolonged attack,” New South Wales (NSW) police said in a statement.
Police said a bystander applied a tourniquet before paramedics transferred the surfer to Port Macquarie Hospital in critical condition.
“[He is in] a serious condition with life threatening injuries, sustained from the lower leg injuries, and also significant blood loss,” NSW Police Chief Inspector Martin Burke said.
Australia ranked behind only the United States in the number of unprovoked shark encounters with humans last year, according to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File.
According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there were 10 shark encounters in New South Wales in 2022, resulting in seven injuries and one death.
Persons:
Martin Burke, “
Organizations:
CNN, 9News, Police, Port Macquarie Hospital, ” NSW Police, Port Macquarie, Facebook, Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries, Life, NSW, Australia, Florida, Australian, Incident
Locations:
Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, NSW, United States