Yarrawonga Park, Lake Macquarie: Man bitten on arm by shark

A 58-year-old man will undergo surgery after being bitten by a shark during a swim in the Lake Macquarie region. He suffered “severe lacerations” to his arm.

A man is fighting for life in hospital after an evening swim ended in a horror shark attack in Lake Macquarie.

The man, 58, was swimming with a woman in waters at Yarrawonga Park about 6.30pm when he was attacked.

It is understood he was bitten on the arm and the woman, 56, helped pull him to shore.

He was suffering serious injuries and flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he will undergo surgery.

“The patient suffered severe lacerations to his left arm,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Grahame Rathbone said.

“Bystanders did a great job applying a makeshift tourniquet before paramedic crews arrived. This was potentially lifesaving for the patient.

“He was conscious and alert while receiving treatment from paramedics.

“When you get a call to attend a shark attack, you never really know the full extent of the injuries until you get on scene.”

A man has been attacked by a shark in Lake Macquarie. Picture: TNV

NSW Police said Lake Macquarie Police District officers “are working with NSW Fisheries to identify the species”.

Locals say people are brave to swim in that area as the water is warmer from the power station outlet.

The attack is only the third ever recorded in the Hunter getaway destination and the first since the 1940s.

A 2008 attack in Lake Macquarie involving a 15-year-old boy was later ruled a hoax after he admitted he lied to police.

One Lake local said while it had been decades since an attack sharks were “rife” in their waters.

“If you paid me right now I wouldn’t swim in there,” he said.

“It’s full of sharks, you’d be a fool to go swimming at dusk or dawn.”