Promising young surfer bitten by shark at Avoca Beach
KIRRA-BELLE Olsson, 13, made a lucky escape after being attacked by a shark at a NSW beach, pictures posted to Facebook show.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE 13-year-old girl attacked by a shark at Avoca Beach this morning has been identified as promising junior surfer Kirra-belle Olsson.
Her father Jamie Olsson his posted pictures of her injuries on Facebook from Gosford Hospital this morning showing a large gash to her calf and a puncture wound to her foot.
The young surfer is linked to Rip Curl and has multiple junior titles.
It is understood she will undergo surgery this afternoon after speaking to the media camped outside hospital.
The girl was surfing about 10-15m from the shore when she was bitten on the left ankle.
Surf Life Saving duty officer Matt Slattery said Kirra-belle was treated at the scene by friends or bystanders and an ambulance was called but later stood down as she was conveyed to hospital in a private vehicle.
Gosford City Council life guards have made an announcement over speakers that, on advice from police, the beach will be closed for the next 24 hours.
“Life Guards will patrol the area and the Lifesaver 1 helicopter will be brought up from Sydney,” Mr Slattery said.
He said there had been a lot of marine activity at Avoca following days of big swell.
“It’s just stirred everything up,” he said.
Surfers have reported seeing a “whale-like” fin and described the water as smelling “baity” after a 13-year-old girl was bitten on the ankle by a 1m shark at Avoca Beach this morning.
Local surfer Chris Moser said he paddled out about 6.30am not long after the girl was bitten and saw a fin, which he believed was too big to be that of the shark responsible for the attack.
Albo vows $644m boost to Medicare clinics
Anthony Albanese has announced the next step in Labor’s Medicare plan, pledging $644m to build dozens of more urgent care clinics.
Out-of-control fire threatens lives, homes
Residents in Perth’s southeast have been urged to leave immediately, or risk the potentially fatal, out-of-control blazes.