This was published 9 years ago
More shark sightings in Newcastle as rough weather closes beaches
By Matt Carr
- Biggest shark Newcastle has seen
- Shark attack at Mollymook Beach
- Shark sightings close beaches
- Should we be alarmed?
Several Newcastle beaches have been closed on Friday following rough weather and more shark sightings.
Bar Beach, Dixon Park, Redhead and Merewether beaches are all shut while Newcastle, Stockton, Blacksmiths, Caves, Nobbys and Catherine Hill Bay beaches remain open.
The council said that the conditions had forced the closures but a shark was also seen in the area on Friday.
"A six-foot [1.8-metre] shark was sighted this morning by a lifeguard on a jet-ski off Bar Beach," the council said in a statement.
"It was also reported that someone was bitten by a small shark at Merewether Beach last night, but we do not have any details about that incident."
A bodysurfer emerging bleeding from the surf off Merewether late on Thursday afternoon.
The man is believed to have been bitten on the left ankle while in the waves behind the Ladies Pool about 6pm.
Posting a photo of his bleeding ankle over a set of flippers and a handboard, the bodysurfer wrote: "Got me! Tagged by #Bruce well, maybe his little brother. #sharkbite".
Surf photographer Rod Owen posted a close-up shot of what looks like five puncture wounds on Instagram about 9pm on Thursday.
Owen said on Friday that the bodysurfer "felt something come up underneath him" before the bite.