- A surfer has described being bitten by a shark at Illuka Beach in northern NSW
- He drove himself to hospital after the 6am attack left him with a thigh wound
- The Department of Primary Industries is investigating the incident
A surfer has been attacked by a three-metre great white shark near Byron Bay on New South Wales’ north coast.
Horrific images show blood gushing from a wound on the man’s hip that can be seen through his torn wetsuit.
His board lays in tatters after being snapped in two by the powerful predator’s jaws.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed the man from Suffolk Park was mauled at 6am before driving himself to hospital with a gash to his right thigh.
A surfer has been attacked by a three-metre great white shark near Byron Bay on New South Wales’ north coast
Horrific images show blood gushing from a wound on the man’s hip that can be seen through his torn wetsuit
The surfer believes a great white shark attacked him, as confirmed by a Facebook post uploaded shortly after 6.30am.
Amber Hopkins, who is believed to know the surfer in question, uploaded pictures of him to Facebook alongside his board which is now snapped in half.
‘Wow!!! This guy has some luck… 6am this morning – Iluka he was attacked by a 3 metre great white shark!!! He could have lost his life!’ She wrote.
In a comment on her post Ms Hopkins said the surfer was with a friend and they were the only two in the water at the time.
In a comment on her post Ms Hopkins said the surfer was with a friend and they were the only two in the water at the time
‘The great white was coming that fast at him… hit him so hard only the sharks front teeth were able to brush him because the force flew him in the air 10 metres then shark went back and bit the board in half,’ she continued.
NSW Surf Life Saving said Iluka Beach was unpatrolled and considered closed, but signs warning swimmers of potential dangers were expected to be posted today, reports the ABC.
There are currently 35 SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real Time) drumlines being used between Evans Head and Lennox Head to mitigate shark attacks.