Teen taken to hospital after shark attack at Killick Creek, Crescent Head

The young victim of a shark attack at a Crescent Head beach on the Mid North Coast remains in hospital three days on from the incident which left first responders in shock.

A teenager boy was attacked at the iconic Killick Creek footbridge at Crescent Head.

A teenager remains in hospital following a shark attack over the weekend at a popular Mid-North Coast beach.

The incident took place about 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon at the mouth of Killick Creek at Crescent Head.

It comes after surfer Joe Hoffman was mauled by a three-metre great white shark while paddling in waters off Crescent Head in July last year.

Surf Life Saving Mid-North Coast president Rod McDonagh said the 15-year-old boy, who was visiting the area, was bitten around the lower leg while swimming in the creek between the footbridge and the surf.

The footbridge has been the subject of countless holiday photos and the popular Crescent Head Caravan Park is located on the creek foreshore just up from it.

The teenager was bitten at the mouth of Killick Creek.

“He was treated on site by family members who were doctors,” Mr McDonagh said.

Members from the Kempsey-Crescent Head SLSC who were on patrol at the time then assisted using a 4WD to transport the boy to a car where he was taken to Port Macquarie hospital.

“He is in our thoughts and we wish him a speedy recovery,” a post on the Kempsey-Crescent Head SLSC Facebook page read.

A representative from the Mid North Coast Area Health confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the 15-year-old boy was still in Port Macquarie hospital and was in a stable condition.

Mr McDonagh said it was a timely reminder to be careful when swimming at river and creek entrances. He said that particular system had a number of flood gates up stream which release debris “from time to time” which can attract sharks.

The teenager boy was bitten around the lower leg.

He says there was a similar incident there a few years ago when somebody was “nipped around the legs”.

Mr McDonagh, who was only notified about the incident on Tuesday, will now alert the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

People took to Facebook to express their concerns about the attack at such a popular location.

“That’d have to be a bull shark, hope he’s doing ok and makes a speedy recovery” – Evan Corbett

“Remember when we’d go swimming here at night while we were camping haha I’m scared” – Bindii Stirling-Kelly

“Um … so you were right about the sharks” – Kelly Jade Bryant

“We were swimming horses at the back of the creek wow!” – Mezy Oakey