Shark that bit teen most likely great white, experts

A shark that bit a teen at a popular beach, leaving his arm with lacerations is understood to have been a great white.

Shark that bit a teen at a Central Coast beach is believed to have been a great white.

A teenage surfer has been bitten on the arm by a shark on NSW’s Central Coast, prompting the closure of multiple beaches.

The 14-year-old suffered minor injuries in the attack, believed to have been by a great white shark, and was taken to Gosford Hospital where he received stitches for lacerations on one hand before being released.

North Avoca, where the attack occurred, and Avoca beaches were both closed by the council following the incident. early on Wednesday morning.

“Please avoid both beaches at this time, until the incident can be investigated further,” Central Coast Council posted on Twitter.

“Our thoughts are with the young surfer involved.”

Authorities say the animal involved was most likely a white shark, also known as a great white.

“Shark biologists have assessed photographs of the teenager’s injuries and surfboard and have determined the bite indentations are indicative of a white shark,” a NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson said.

Avoca and North Avoca beaches are currently closed following a shark bite incident at approx. 10.30am today. Our thoughts are with the young surfer involved. Please avoid both beaches at this time until the incident can be investigated further. #staysafe#ccbeachespic.twitter.com/EIuADqGtw4

— CentralCoastCouncil (@CCoastCouncil) August 31, 2022

Surf Life Saving NSW deployed a drone in the area shortly after midday but were unsuccessful in locating the shark.

The last tagged shark detected by the Avoca Beach listening station was on Friday, 26 August, according to the DPI.

In 2017, another surfer was attacked by a shark at Avoca Beach and escaped by punching the animal in the head.

The man, who had recently arrived in Australia from England, managed to escape the shark’s jaws but sustained puncture wounds on his upper arm where he was bitten.

In the wake of that attack, Avoca Beach and neighbouring North Avoca were closed for 24 hours.

A similar attack occurred at Avoca Beach in 2017 in which a surfer was bitten on the arm and escaped by punching the shark. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The NSW DPI operates a number of shark mitigation initiatives along the NSW central coast, including shark listening stations, tagging, nets, drones and drum lines.

According to the DPI, there are four baited drumlines placed around 500m off Avoca beach, designed to intercept sharks that come too close to shore.

Target species of sharks that take the bait - being white, bull or tiger - are tagged and released one kilometre out to sea.

At around noon on Wednesday, two large white sharks, measuring around two metres long, were tagged and released in separate areas near Lake Macquarie, around 50km north of Avoca.