Female surfer, 35, is mauled by an enormous shark at a popular NSW beach before her friend punched the predator in a bid to save her
- A 35-year-old female surfer has been mauled by a shark on the NSW coast
- She was surfing at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie about 9.30am Saturday
- Paramedics rushed to the beach where she was found with serious lacerations
A female surfer has been mauled by an enormous shark on at a popular beach on the New South Wales coast.
The 35-year-old woman was surfing with a male friend at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 10am.
The beast attacked her right calf and the back of her thigh before her friend punched the beast in a bid to save her.
Emergency services rushed to the beach where the woman was found with significant lacerations to her right leg.
A female surfer has been mauled by an enormous shark on at a popular beach on the New South Wales coast
The 35-year-old woman was surfing with a male friend at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 10am
It is the third serious attack NSW Ambulance has responded to in recent months.
Three crews, a specialist medical team via the Westpac Helicopter and an inspector were sent to the scene before the woman was taken to the Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a stable condition.
Duty Operations Manager at NSW Ambulance Inspector Andrew Beverley said paramedics were on the scene within eight minutes.
‘The bystanders on scene that rendered assistance should be commended,’ he said.
‘They did an amazing job before we arrived.’
Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack.
‘Beaches in Port Macquarie will be closed for the day due to a shark attack at Shelly Beach,’ Port Macquarie ALS Lifeguards wrote on Facebook.
‘A helicopter is currently en route. No swimming or surfing today please.’
The long stretch of sandy white beach located on the NSW mid-north coast is surrounded by rainforests and popular among families and tourists.
The woman was taken to the Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a stable condition
It is ideal for families with small children, with plenty of shade to set up for the day.
Shelly Beach is also popular for weddings as there is hand-carved sculptural timber furniture including King and Queen Chairs and an entrance archway at Harry’s lookout.
There have been five fatal shark attacks in Australian waters in 2020.
One of them was in WA in January, when experienced diver Gary Johnson, 57, was taken near Cull Island, close to West Beach in Esperance.
In July, a 10-year-old boy suffered shock and cuts when a shark ripped him from a fishing boat about five kilometres offshore from Stanley in northwest Tasmania.
Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack