Yet Another Surfer Attacked By Shark In Ballina

Yet another shark attack has occurred in Ballina, with a surfer sustaining a bite to the upper thigh at Lighthouse Beach this morning.

According to Richmond Police Inspector Nicole Bruce, the attack went down at around 9am, with the 17-year-old surfer being treated at the scene before being taken to Lismore Base Hospital, as reported by ABC News.

“He received lacerations and bite marks to his upper-thigh area, he was assisted into the shore and off-duty nurses treated him,” she said.

A police statement suggests that he suffered a single bite wound and made his own way to shore. He’s currently in a stable condition.

“At Lighthouse Beach for a swim and instead, saw a shark attack… hope the surfer is ok. #Ballina” Photo: ‏@helenlovesfood

Obviously, all beaches in the Ballina Shire are have been closed until further notice (at least the next 24 hours).

Ballina has become the unofficial shark attack capital of Australia in recent years – the Shire area and Lennox are plagued daily by sightings, with attacks occurring with far too much regularity (read some theories around why, here).

Last year, as part of a $16m State Gov package to reduce the shark attacks, plans were made to erect an eco barrier at Lighthouse, but due to ongoing rough conditions they were scrapped last month. Could this latest attack be the catalyst that re-sparks that conversation?