A fourth shark attack was reported off the coast of Australia within a three-day span, ABC News reports.
The latest shark bite was reported off New South Wales on Tuesday (January 20) at 9:00 a.m. local time. The man involved, identified only as a 39-year-old, was reported to have suffered minor cuts, according to Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club captain Matt Worrall.
“The board seemed to take most of the impact,” Worrall told Australian Broadcasting Corp via ABC News. “He made his own way into shore where he was assisted by locals.”
The man was taken to a hospital for his injuries but later discharged. The incident followed three earlier attacks reported days apart.
A man and a boy were each reported to have suffered critical leg wounds and the surfboard of another boy was bitten at beaches along the Sydney coast on Sunday (January 18) and Monday (January 19). Beaches along New South Wales’ northern coast and northern Sydney were closed following the latest attack, which authorities confirmed would continue for 48 hours.
Electronic drumlines that alert officials to large sharks in the area were deployed off the coast of Sydney. Authorities warned that an increased risk of bull shark attacks was brought on by recent rainfall that left beaches murky in the area.
“If anyone’s thinking of heading into the surf this morning anywhere along the northern beaches, think again. We have such poor water quality that’s really conducive to some bull shark activity,” said Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce via ABC News.
“If you’re thinking about going for a swim, just go to a local pool because at this stage, we’re advising that beaches are unsafe,” he added.
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