Police at the scene of the fatal shark attack at Shelly Beach in East Ballina. Picture: Ashleigh Saunders
A group of surfers who helped the victim, aged in his 20s, from the water said they saw the shadow of the shark and estimated it to be 3.5m-4m long.
Ambulance crews attempted to revive the man on the sand but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police and Surf Life Saving NSW duty officers are at the scene and are scouring the area for the shark.
Warning… A Beach Closed sign at the spot where the man was taken. Source: News Corp Australia
All beaches from South Ballina to Lennox Head have been closed and swimmers and surfers ordered out of the water.
A NSW Ambulance media spokeswoman said the age of the victim could not be confirmed at this stage.
Surf Life Saving NSW life guards have cleared the water at the direction of police.
“Beaches are unpatrolled at this time of year, but as a result of this incident the Australian Lifeguard Service has stationed lifeguards at all beaches in the Ballina Shire to keep the public informed and out of the water,” a spokesman said.
Shelly Beach…Surfers have been ordered out of the water Source: Supplied
Inflatable rescue boats, jet skis and the Ballina Jet Rescue Boat are assisting police to search the waters for the shark.
NSW Life Saving Manager Andy Kent said surf life saving assets will remain on-scene to assist police in any way that is required.
“This is obviously a very serious incident and we would ask that the public follow the directions of emergency service workers and lifeguards by remaining clear of the water.”
“Our thoughts go out to the man’s family and friends, who will dealing with this tragedy.”
Marine Biology lecturer from Southern Cross University Dr Aniel Buscher said it was unlikely today’s fatal attack and an attack yesterday at nearby Seven Mile Beach were related.
“It would most certainly not be the same shark,” he said. “There is still only one or two incidents a year and those statistics have remained the same for the past 20 years.”
Jabez Reitman is taken to hospital / Picture: Channel 7 Source: DailyTelegraph
Shark attack survicvr Jabez Reitman with wife Katherine. Source: Facebook Source: Facebook
Experienced surfer Jabez Reitman was left with a cut to his back and puncture wounds to his buttocks after he was bitten by what he believes was a 2m to 3m shark.
At about 6.45am the father of one and local chef was 60m offshore when he said he was attacked, before frantically paddling back to shore.
“I was just freaking out I thought it was a dolphin at first,” he said.
He later told his wife Katherine the shark grabbed onto him with such force it pulled him off his board, then mysteriously swam away.
“It had a bite and left,” Ms Reitman said
“He did not see it, he thought it was a dolphin that had knocked him off his board then he started to feel the sting of the wound.”
In September last year Paul Wilcox, 50, was killed by a shark at Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay.
source:dailytelegraph.com.au
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