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A surfer has survived a shark attack on the NSW Central Coast, paddling away with wounds to his arm.
THREE great whites have been spotted at a beach in NSW near where a surfer was attacked by a shark last night.
Reports say the predators were spotted by the Westpac rescue helicopter at Copacabana beach, in the Central Coast, just a few beaches along from where a 28-year-old surfer was bitten.
The surfer felt the shark bite his right arm at Avoca beach just before 8pm (AEST). “He was paddling and that’s when he felt his arm go straight underneath his board,” an ambulance spokesman said.
“He got himself back to the beach and that’s when he raised the alarm.”
The man suffered a 5cm cut to his right forearm and a puncture would to his right wrist.
He was treated on the beach and transported to Gosford Hospital in a stable condition.
A spokesman for the hospital said the surfer was in a satisfactory condition and that doctors were taking X-rays of his arm. He added that the surfer may not need stitches.
Rick Parsons, president of the North Avoca Surf Lifesaving Club, said witnesses had reported the shark being brown and about 1.8 metres long.
Mr Parsons speculated that it could have been a bronze whaler that was recently sighted at nearby Terrigal Beach.
He said the attack was extremely uncommon. “I’ve never known of a shark attack on North Avoca and I’ve been involved with the surf club for the past 20 years,” he said.
It is the latest in a string of non-fatal shark attacks in NSW waters this summer.
In December a great white attacked surfer Steve King at Angourie in the state’s north while a docile bottom-dwelling wobbegong shark bit the leg of teenage surfer Ronald Mason off Sydney.
In both attacks the victims suffered minor injuries.
Shark attacks are more frequent at dawn and dusk, and after heavy rain.
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