Surfer bitten on the shoulder by a shark off Avoca Beach
A DOCTOR who was mauled by a shark on the Central Coast on Monday was left with a series of puncture wounds to his shoulder.
Central Coast
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A DOCTOR who was mauled by a shark on the Central Coast this afternoon was left with a series of puncture wounds to his shoulder.
The 25-year-old man was surfing with two other doctors at Avoca Beach, near the shark tower, when he was attacked by a shark just before 4pm.
A Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman said the victim left the beach before ambulance crews arrived, instead opting to travel with his mates to Gosford Hospital where they all work.
“He was paddling for a wave and didn’t get it and he was immediately attacked on the shoulder,” she said.
“Luckily all three of them were doctors so they knew what to do.
“An ambulance was on scene but he decided to make his own way to hospital. Council Lifeguards have closed the beach and depending on what they want us to do we may deploy assets tomorrow and have a look around.”
A Central Coast Council spokeswoman said the man had been surfing about 20m offshore when he was knocked off his board and “felt something” impact him. He got back on his board and paddled ashore.
“He is going to be fine,” she said.
Lifeguards suspected a combination of warm ocean water, the location of the surfer in a deep channel, and “a lot of fish” in the area had attracted the shark closer to shore.
The council has closed both Avoca beach and North Avoca beach for the remainder of the day.
A Department of Primary Industries assessment will determine when either beach will reopen.
It is not the first time a surfer has been attacked at the popular surf spot.
In October 2014, surfer Kirra-Belle Olsson was attacked by a shark in almost an identical position along the beach.
