Man in hospital after being attacked by shark off NSW coast

A man is being treated for injuries to his leg after being attacked by a shark off the coast of New South Wales on Wednesday morning – the latest in a spate of attacks recently.

It is believed the 43-year-old was surfing at Shelley Beach in East Ballina when he was attacked by the shark at around 7am.

According to Nine News, the man admitted himself to Ballina Hospital in the state’s far north with non life threatening injuries following the attack in a nearby area.

After an examination of his wounds, he was then reportedly transferred to Lismore Base Hospital, with reports now claiming he remains in a stable condition.

#BREAKING: There may have been yet another shark attack. A 43-year-old man has taken himself to the Ballina hospital on the NSW north coast, with a 20-centremetre gash to his leg. #9News pic.twitter.com/vS7T2Px5at

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 6, 2018

Authorities are now working with the Department of Primary Industries to identify the species of shark that attacked the man, Nine News reports. In the meantime, the beach has been closed to visitors.

NSW DPI advise a surfer was bitten by a shark at SHELLY BEACH, Ballina at ~7am, 7 Nov 2018. Beach closed by SLS NSW. Please be #SharkSmart

— SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) November 6, 2018

The attack comes just one day after the death of a man who was mauled by a shark in Queensland’s Whitsundays.

According to a report by Sunrise on Tuesday morning, the Victorian tourist died following the attack in the iconic Queensland tourist hotspot. It is believed he was swimming off a charter boat with friends when the attack occurred.

The man is thought to be in his 30s and was airlifted from Cid Harbour to Mackay Hospital in a critical condition with significant leg and wrist injuries on Monday afternoon. According to Queensland Ambulance, the attack occurred at around 5:37pm.

A Victorian tourist has died after being mauled by a shark in Queensland’s Whitsundays. 😳 #sun7 pic.twitter.com/iVBSEaG1AC

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) November 5, 2018

The man suffered major blood loss was and was resuscitated twice, but died as a result of his injuries.

Read more: Man dies following shark attack in Queensland

His death came six weeks after two other people were attacked in the same area. On September 20, Tasmanian woman Justine Barwick was bitten as she snorkelled in Cid Harbour.

The 46-year-old received serious injuries and underwent an extensive 18-hour reconstructive surgery to save her mauled right leg. Less than 24 hours later, Melbourne schoolgirl Hannah Papps was attacked while swimming in an area nearby. She was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition where she was treated for the injuries sustained to her leg.

Following those two attacks, four sharks were killed off the coast of Queensland. Officials from Fisheries Queensland enticed the sharks using baited lines. Despite being unsure whether they were the creatures responsible for the attacks, the predators were then “humanely euthanised”.

Have you been following this story? Are you scared to swim in the ocean following these shark attacks?