Surfer mauled by Great White Shark in Ballina

A 32-year-old male surfer is in a critical condition after having his lower legs bitten by what’s believed to be a four-metre great white shark in Ballina today, on the NSW North Coast. He was surfing with two friends at North Wall when the the attack occurred just after 10am. The two friends helped him to the beach before performing CPR and trying to stem the blood flow with makeshift tourniquets using their leashes. They contacted emergency services, who worked on the man in the back of a ute before he was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital. The injuries were described as ‘severe’, and it’s believed that a tooth was found in his wounds. The Westpac chopper used to airlift the victim was later deployed to search for the shark. Shortly after, a great white shark was spotted near where the attack occurred (see video above). All beaches within the Ballina Shire are closed for the next 24 hours, while lifeguards patrol the waters on jet-skis and boats. In February, 41-year-old Tadashi Nakahara died after being attacked at Shelly Beach, one beach over from Lighthouse, by what was believed to be a bull shark. And in 2008, a 16-year-old died after a shark attack at the southern end of Lighthouse Beach next to the breakwater. The Skullcandy Oz Grom Open was set to begin tomorrow morning with 270 kids showing up 10km north of Lighthouse. Organisers are obviously unsure whether the event will now be postponed.