Emergency services were called to Wellington Drive, Nambucca Heads, about 7.15am today (Sunday) after reports a 36-year-old man was bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing.
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He swam to the nearby breakwall, where a passer-by saw him and notified emergency services.
NSW Fire and Rescue were on scene at the breakwall to lift him off the rocks. NSW Ambulance paramedics then treated him before he was winched from the breakwall and flown to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman confirmed the man sustained five deep lacerations to his right lower leg.
The Westpac Rescue helicopter flew via Port Macquarie, where it landed briefly to pick up more blood enroute. In a great team effort by emergency services, highway patrol officers raced the blood from Port Macquarie Base Hospital to the helicopter, where it was loaded during refuelling.
He was due to arrive at John Hunter around 10.30am.
Beaches in the area are currently closed, including Shelley Beach and Main Beach.
Officers from Mid North Coast Police District will liaise with Department of Primary Industry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Beachgoers are urged to follow safety advice by visiting the Department of Primary Industry’s website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/sharks and the SharkSmart app.
