Surfer, 13, is attacked by a shark at a popular New South Wales beach – as lifeguards rush to save him
Lifeguards have rushed to save a teenager after he was attacked by a shark at a popular New South Wales beach.
The 13-year-old was surfing at Town Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast, when he was attacked at 6am on Monday.
Paramedics rushed to the beach and treated the teenager for bites to his foot, fingers and upper leg.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Susan George said the boy was in surprisingly good spirits when paramedics arrived.
Lifeguards have rushed to save a teenager after he was attacked by a shark at a popular New South Wales beach
The beach has since been closed with signs warning possible swimmers and surfers not to go in the water
'Amazingly, he was in fairly good spirits when our crew arrived and local surf lifesavers did a great job looking after him when he first came out of the water,' she said.
'I'd say this young man will have a few stories to tell his mates when he's well enough to return to school!'
He was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a stable condition.
The teenager had been paddling above a reef just 30 metres from shore in the middle of the beach when the shark attacked him.
He suffered bites to his thigh, foot and finger before scaring the shark away.
The boy's mother is believed to have called to other surfers for help when she saw her son had been attacked.
Head lifeguard James Turnham said several surfers helped paddle the teenager to shore and waited with him as paramedics arrived.
'The waves are only breaking about 30-40 metres out this morning,' Mr Turnham told Port Macquarie News.
The species of the shark has not been confirmed but Mr Turnham said it may have been a small reef shark
'It has made a mess of his ankle and there was a small bite to his finger. It wasn't life threatening. He was in a bit of shock.'
'He was in the centre of the beach near the rocks where there is a bit of a reef.'
The species of the shark has not been confirmed but Mr Turnham said it may have been a small reef shark or bull shark.
The beach has since been closed with signs warning possible swimmers and surfers not to go in the water.
Town Beach is expected to be closed for the rest of the day.
Paramedics rushed to the beach and treated the teenager for bites to his foot, fingers and upper leg (Town Beach pictured)