Swimmer Attacked By Bull Shark In Shelley Beach, Ballina

A swimmer was attacked by a bull shark at Shelley Beach in Ballina, NSW, on Sunday, April 28. 

The victim, thought to be a man in his late 20s, was reportedly taking photographs of friends in the water when he was bitten on the lower right leg. Conditions were calm and clear, with offshore autumn winds and clean, two-foot surf. The man is reportedly in stable condition, though the extent of his injuries are unknown. 

Shelley Beach is a popular spot for many surfers and was just about the primary filming site for the Electric Acid Surfboard Test featuring Dave Rastovich.

Recent environmental conditions may have contributed to heightened shark activity. Heavy rainfall in the preceding month led to sediment outflow from the Richmond River, causing a mix of blue and brown water and hypoxic conditions that resulted in large numbers of dead fish washing up on beaches from North Wall to Tallows. Increased shark presence has been reported near the breakwall at Ballina, with several dorsal fin sightings visible from the walkway.

The Ballina region has a documented history of shark incidents. Notable cases include:

• February 9, 2015 – Shelley Beach, Ballina: Tadashi Nakahara, a 41-year-old Japanese surfer, was fatally attacked by a great white shark while surfing.
  
• July 2, 2015 – Lighthouse Beach, Ballina: Bodyboarder Mat Lee was attacked by a great white shark and sustained serious injuries to both legs.
  
• August 2015 – Lennox Head: Surfer Michael Hoile was knocked off his board by a great white shark but escaped without serious injury.
  
• August 2015 – Evans Head: Surfer Craig Ison was attacked by a great white shark and sustained severe injuries to his leg and arm.
  
• September 26, 2016 – Lighthouse Beach, Ballina: A 17-year-old surfer was mauled by a great white shark while surfing. He survived with injuries.
  
• November 7, 2018 – Shelley Beach, Ballina: Surfer Lee Jonsson, 43, was attacked by a 2.6-meter great white shark. He sustained a 20-centimeter gash to his leg and managed to fend off the shark with his board.
  
• October 2019 – Sharpes Beach, Ballina: A 25-year-old surfer was bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing. He was hospitalized and recovered.
  

While the media dubbed Ballina the “shark attack capital of the world” during the 2015–2016 spike in incidents, South Australia has since seen more fatalities, including four deaths in seven attacks over a recent 20-month span.

This latest, non-fatal encounter serves as a reminder to exercise caution when swimming or surfing in high-risk areas, especially following rain events or periods of increased fish activity.