Shark sighting at Crowdy Beach prompts lifeguards to close beach

A shark ‘sitting in the rip’ just off shore at a busy Mid-North Coast beach had holiday crowds dashing for dry land while others were more determined.

Daniel Carey from Crowdy Head SLSC was on patrol on Monday, January 2, when a 2.5metre bull shark forced the closure of the beach.

Lifeguards have been praised for their actions when a large bull shark was spotted close to swimmers on a packed Mid-North Coast beach on Monday.

A 2.5 metre bull shark was spotted lurking in the shallows at Crowdy Beach on Monday, January 2, sending holiday crowds dashing for dry land.

It comes just a few weeks after a teenager was taken to hospital after being bitten by a shark at Crescent Head.

Bull sharks are considered the most dangerous sharks in the world by some experts because they‘re aggressive and they tend to hunt along tropical shorelines where people often swim.

Crowdy Head Surf Life Saving Club member Daniel Carey was on duty when a surfer came up to the tower to alert lifeguards.

“It was seen about 250 metres along from club house sitting in the rip chasing bait fish,” Mr Carey said.

Swimmers still willing to risk it, were kept in the shallows by lifeguards.

The shark alarm was sounded about 11am and the beach closed.

“After the alarm went off and the rubber duckie circled a few times people soon got the message,” he said.

The decision was made to allow swimmers back into the shallow water just across from the patrol tower with a lifeguard stationed in waist deep water about 25 metres off shore to keep them in the shallows.

“And our drone pilot is rostered out at Forster today so we can’t use that to keep an eye on things,” he said.

Mr Carey was one of three generations of the same family on duty at the beach between Port Macquarie and Old Bar on the Mid-North Coast.

The beach was packed with families and four-wheel drives, and there were long lines at the surf club kiosk.

Mr Carey’s 17-year-old daughter Ellie was the first lifeguard stationed 25 metres off shore to warn swimmers about the shark.

“She won’t get eaten,” Mr Carey said.

“We’re swimming in their domain, they live here.”

After he saw a few “bullies” arguing with her and wanting to push into the deeper water he took off to help her out.

Bull Sharks are considered the most dangerous sharks in the world by some experts. Picture: Michael Patrick O'Neill

Praise for rapid response

People took to Facebook to show their appreciation for the lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident:

The team of surfer life savers on duty did a fabulous job today. Hats off to them all - Taylor Morris

The lifeguards did a great job getting us all out of the water very quickly - Sean Condous

Great work Crowdy Head Surf Life Saving Club. We had to precautionary clear the whole beach last week at Burleigh due to 10 sharks chasing a large bait ball into the patrolled area - Steve Panozzo

We were down the beach today a couple of hundred metres from the flags and when we drove off the beach we saw the shark sign and were like oh there must be a shark. Saw the flags were down - Nicole Higgins

Port Macquarie is one of four locations to receive a new Rapid Response Vessel under the NSW Government’s Shark Management Program.

The vessels will be stationed at various locations to respond to serious or fatal shark bites.