A surfer has been attacked by a shark in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, marking the city’s third attack in 26 hours.
It’s understood a shark attacked a man, believed to be in his 20s, at Manly Beach, north Sydney, about 6.20pm on Monday.
The man suffered serious leg injuries and was pulled from the water by members of the public who performed first aid until first responders arrived.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
‘All beaches on the Northern Beaches are closed until further notice, and this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
Northern Beaches Council lifeguards sounded the alarm immediately after the attack, erected shark warning signs and dispatched a jet ski to patrol the water.
Surf Life Saving NSW launched a drone to assist with the investigation but there have been no further sightings since the attack before midday.
‘Council lifeguards will continue to patrol for the remainder of the day and tomorrow,’ a Northern Beaches Council spokesperson said.
A young man was attacked by a shark at Manly Beach
Emergency services were called to the beach about 6.30pm on Monday
The man suffered serious injuries after being bitten on the leg
Three people – a boy aged 12, a boy aged 11 and a man believed to be in his 20s – were attacked by sharked in Sydney within 26 hours
A 15cm bite mark on the young surfer’s board suggests he was most likely attacked by a bull shark, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department.
The shark net had been set as normal on Dee Why Beach, which was closed at the time of attack because of large swells and dangerous surf.
It’s the second shark attack in Sydney on Monday and the third in 26 hours.
On Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy was thrown off his surfboard by a large shark, believed to be a bull shark.
It took several bites out of his board at Dee Why Point.
The attack followed another off Shark Beach, Vaucluse, on Sunday afternoon.
A boy, 12, was swimming with his friends at a popular jump rock to the west of the beach and was bitten outside the netted swimming area.
It’s believed he was attacked by a large bull shark.
A 15cm bite mark was found on the young surfer’s board (pictured), indicating he was most likely attacked by a bull shark
The man, believed to be in his 20s, was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition
Manly Beach has been closed following the attack
Police on Monday urged people not to swim in murky, low-visibility water after bucketing rain drenched Sydney and its surrounds at the weekend.
Extra fresh water in the harbour after recent heavy rain, combined with the splashing effect from people jumping off a rock face, created a ‘perfect storm’ for Sunday’s shark attack, Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.
‘I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time,’ he told reporters before the Dee Why incident was reported.
Heavy swell has also prevented the operation of smart drumlines, which notify authorities of shark activity along most of the NSW coast since Sunday.
