Surfer in his 20s dies in shark attack on NSW North Coast
A surfer has died after he was bitten by a shark on the NSW North Coast on Sunday morning.
NSW Police said emergency services were called to Shelly Beach, in the suburb of Emerald Beach, north of Coffs Harbour on Sunday morning just before 11am.
Police said the man, believed to be in his 20s, had critical injuries to his right arm and back.
He was treated by paramedics at the scene but died.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
A man who was also surfing recalled the moment the victim cried out for help.
“I was out in the surf and I heard screaming, I paddled further out to the water and saw a man without an arm, there was lots of blood,” the witness told The Daily Telegraph.
"He was shouting 'help me' — people were trying to get him out to the shore.
"I saw paramedics performing CPR on him for about an hour and a half trying to save them."
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'Devastating for everybody'
“It was devastating for everybody on the beach this morning," inspector Chris Wilson from NSW Ambulance said.
“A number of local surfers and bystanders came to the aid of this man, they were incredibly brave in a very challenging situation.
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched in a critical care medical team onto the beach to continue treatment.”
“The patient suffered a critical injury to his arm, but despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn’t be revived.”
Beaches closed until further notice
Emerald beach, Shelly Beach and Serenity Bay will be closed until further notice.
"Please don’t enter the water in the area bounded in the below photo," Coffs Harbour Lifeguards wrote in a Facebook post.
"The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are monitoring the situation. We will update this post should there be any further information or changes to the beach status.
"Do not enter the water between Bare Bluff and Moonee beach."
with AAP
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