Shark bites surfer in Australian state’s fourth attack in 48 hours

AFP/APP

Sydney: Swimmers and surfers were on Tuesday warned to steer clear of beaches in parts of eastern Australia after four shark attacks were reported within 48 hours.

Heavy rains stirring up murky waters have been blamed for the unusual spate of attacks in the state of New South Wales.

Surf Life Saving New South Wales said the turbid conditions were ideal for bull sharks, urging people to stay out of the ocean until conditions improved.

“We have such poor water quality that’s conducive to bull shark activity,” the water safety body told national broadcaster ABC. “Just go to a local pool, because at this stage, we’re advising that the beaches are unsafe.”

A surfer on the state’s Mid North Coast escaped with “minor” injuries after being bitten by a shark while catching waves on Tuesday, Surf Life Saving New South Wales said.

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It was the state’s fourth recorded shark attack in the past 48 hours.

In one of the earlier incidents, a shark bit a man’s legs as he surfed at Manly, leaving him in critical condition. A few hours before that, an 11-year-old boy escaped uninjured when a shark took a bite out of his surfboard further north.

All of Sydney’s northern beaches have been closed until further notice.

On Sunday afternoon, a 12-year-old boy was seriously injured while swimming at a beach on Sydney Harbour.

“It was a horrendous scene at the time when police attended. We believe it was something like a bull shark that attacked the lower limbs of that boy,” said Superintendent Joseph McNulty, New South Wales marine area police commander. “That boy is fighting for his life now,” he told reporters on Monday.

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Scientists said recent heavy rainfall had likely drawn bull sharks closer to shore, particularly near river mouths.

“Sharks, especially bulls, are drawn to freshwater flushes to feed on fish and dead animals as they drift down from rivers,” said Culum Brown from Macquarie University. “Given the incredible rainfall we have had of late, the risk of encountering sharks is high. Stay out of the water till it clears.”