A 27-year-old surfer is in a critical but stable condition after a shark attack at Manly Beach on Monday evening, the third such incident in Sydney in two days. The man, from Wollongong, was bitten on the leg about 40 metres offshore at around 6.15pm. Superintendent John Duncan of the Northern Beaches Police Area Command described the injuries as 'probably life-changing'.
Emergency crews performed CPR on the surfer, who was in cardiac arrest and had lost a significant amount of blood. A highway patrol officer met the ambulance en route to Royal North Shore Hospital, where the man received 13 units of blood. An off-duty NSW Ambulance doctor who was swimming at the beach at the time assisted in the initial treatment.
The attack follows a series of shark incidents in the region. On Sunday, a 12-year-old boy was attacked while swimming in Sydney Harbour at Vaucluse, and an 11-year-old surfer had his board bitten at Dee Why. A fourth person was injured while surfing off Limeburners Creek national park, north of Port Macquarie, on Tuesday.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins expressed shock, noting the community is still grieving the death of surfer Mercury Psillakis, who was fatally attacked by a great white shark at Long Reef in September. All northern beaches remain closed, with the decision to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The Department of Primary Industries believes a bull shark was responsible and has deployed additional smart drumlines in the area.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said there is no 'silver bullet' to prevent attacks and urged people to avoid the water following heavy rain, which increases shark activity. Police have advised against swimming in murky, low-visibility conditions.
