Shark attack: Sam Morgan in induced coma after being mauled by a shark in Ballina

Aspiring professional surfer Sam Morgan is in a coma at Gold Coast Hospital following a shark attack in Ballina.

The 'grommet' was mauled at Lighthouse Beach in East Ballina on Tuesday believed to around 6:15pm but managed to make it back to the beach, where others came to his aid.

“There were a couple of off-duty lifesavers on the beach that assisted him when he came onto the beach," a lifeguard told 7 News.

After being stabilised at the scene, he was taken to Ballina District Hospital, before being airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital.

Sam Morgan is in an induced coma after he was mauled by a shark at Lighthouse Beach on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook

Surf Life Saving volunteer Duty Officers were quickly on scene. Photo: Surf Life Saving Australia

The 20-year-old suffered serious wounds to his left thigh and underwent surgery on Tuesday night and Yahoo7 believes emergency crews are doing everything they can to save Sam's leg.

The surfer competed at a high level as a junior. Photo: 7 News

The 20-year-old suffered serious wounds to his left thingh and was flown to Gold Coast Hospital where he is currently in an induced coma. Photo: 7 News

The young surfer saw a shark swam past him which then turned around and attacked him from behind.

Witnesses have described seeing teeth marks in Sam’s surfboard and investigators will use the bites on Sam's board, to determine exactly what attacked him.

After two shark sightings in the area this week Ballina's mayor is in no doubt it was a bull shark and claims that if eco-nets were installed in the area, it may have prevented the attack.

Witnesses claim the surfing champion that he emerged out of the water with a large bite wound to his left thigh. Photo: 7 News

"The experts said because it bit the board that it was definitely a bull shark," Mayor David Wright claims.

The Department of Primary Industries believes the shark was possibly a bull shark around 2.8 to 3.1 metres long.

Professional surfer, Codie Klein told to Yahoo7 that the "aspiring professional surfer who was well-known in the Lennox community for his surfing ability" and friends didn't have a bad word to say about him.

Morgan is a member of the Le-Ba Boardriders Club who only rallied together in August to conquer the current shark attack crisis.

Now with one of their own members added to the the attack list, the club posted a tribute to Sam Morgan on their Facebook page.

“In shock tonight with the news that Sam Morgan has been attacked at North Wall this evening,” the post read.

It is believed the bull shark is around 2.8 to 3.1 metres long. Photo: 7 News

Sam's surfing club were worried about sharks before he was attacked and had even held a crisis meeting calling for a shark cull in August. Photo: Facebook

We are all thinking of you mate and praying that you will be OK."

Surfing NSW posted a picture of Mr Morgan on Facebook, saying: 'Thoughts and prayers go out to North Coast surfer Sam Morgan who was an unfortunate victim of a shark attack this afternoon.

'Our thoughts are with you and the entire North Coast surfing community.'

Lennox Ballina Boardriders also posted a message saying: 'The club and whole surfing community is praying for you brother #speedyrecovery'.

Lighthouse Beach located in east Ballina will be close for 24 hours. Photo: 7 News

Police have closed Lighthouse Beach for 24 hours and have been investigating the attack.

At least 14 shark attacks have been recorded in NSW this year, including a serious attack on bodyboarder Mat Lee in July at the same beach and a fatality nearby, when Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara, 41, was killed at Shelly Beach on February 9.

• Man bitten by shark at Ballina

Earlier this year a man was left in a critical condition after he was bitten by a shark while body boarding with two friends at Lighthouse beach.

The 32-year-old was bitten just after 10am on July 2, by a four-metre great white shark.

The man suffered significant injuries to his lower legs.