A horrifying shark attack has left a 44-year-old man in critical condition on Friday morning at Port Macquarie.
The incident occurred at Lighthouse Beach around 10am in northern New South Wales.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The New South Wales Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
According to NSW Police, the man was surfing near Watonga Rocks when a shark bit his upper and lower leg.
The beach has been closed as authorities work to determine the size and species of the shark, using Surf Life Saving NSW drones for the task.
Witnesses at the scene quickly provided aid, applying a tourniquet before paramedics arrived to treat the injured man.
He was then transported to Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a critical condition, according to a NSW Health spokesperson.
Port Macquarie Hastings surf life saving lifeguards said: “we hope and pray for a good outcome for the victim involved”.
The Port Macquarie Hastings Council has taken measures to reduce the shark incidents, deploying 15 smart drum lines along the coastal region, in addition to two drones and a listening station designed to detect tagged sharks.
Several great white sharks, including a 2.28-metre shark at Shelly Beach and a 2.96-metre shark at North Shore Beach, have been tagged and released in the vicinity.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.