Authorities on the New South Wales mid-north coast have urged people to stay out of the ocean after a fourth shark incident in 48 hours, warning beachgoers to “just go to a pool” as conditions remain unsafe.
A 39-year-old surfer was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning after being bitten near Point Plomer Beach in Limeburners Creek National Park, close to the Point Plomer campground and less than 20 kilometres north of Port Macquarie.
The shark took his surfboard and left him with a wound to the chest through his wetsuit and grazes to one leg. He was treated at Kempsey District Hospital and was in a stable condition.
NSW Police said the surfer was in the water when the shark grabbed his board. The local health district said he suffered minor injuries.
The attack was the fourth shark incident on the NSW coast in 48 hours. A 12-year-old was critically injured at Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour on the Sunday. On the Monday, an 11-year-old’s surfboard was bitten at Dee Why, and a surfer was bitten on the leg at North Steyne, Manly, on the Monday evening.
Beaches between Town Beach and Crescent Head were closed after the attack, along with several on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said the man was very fortunate to escape serious harm and was recovering with cuts and grazes. He said poor water quality was attracting bull sharks and warned people against entering the water along the northern beaches.
“We have very poor water quality that’s attractive to bull sharks,” Pearce told the ABC. “Two people are critically injured in the hospital this morning. At this stage, beaches are unsafe. People should go to a local pool instead.”
Surf Life Saving NSW communications manager Donna Wishart said drone surveillance and jetski patrols had been deployed near Crescent Head to monitor the area. She confirmed the surfer sustained grazes to his leg after coming into contact with the shark.
Authorities said they would continue to assess conditions, with shark activity remaining high along the coast.
Sources: The Guardian, “After four shark attacks in 48 hours, NSW authorities urge beachgoers ‘just go to a pool'” (theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/20/shark-attack-nsw-coast-fourth-incident-man-surfer); BBC News, “Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours” (bbc.com/news/articles/cqxy3523nq2o).
Photo: Christopher Wood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
