Advertisement

'Don’t tell mum': Teen surfer attacked by shark at Ballina’s Lighthouse beach

A 17-year-old surfer who was attacked by a great white shark on the NSW north coast had one request for his rescuers, “don’t tell mum”.

Local surfer Cooper Allen was rushed to hospital after being bitten on the right side of his hip by a shark while surfing off Lighthouse Beach at about 9am.

The teen paddled himself into shore, waved around his arms and was assisted by a nurse who was at the beach.

Local surfer Cooper Allen was the 17-year-old surfer who was attacked at Lighthouse Beach. Photo: Facebook
Local surfer Cooper Allen was the 17-year-old surfer who was attacked at Lighthouse Beach. Photo: Facebook

Since the attack Allen is "joking & in good spirits" after suffering a deep wound to his thigh.

A Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter airlifted Cooper to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition.

Local surfer Dan Webber, who said he was in the water 5m away when the attack happened, told The Australian that once Cooper was on the shore he had one request: “You can call my dad, but don’t tell mum yet."

Mr Webber said Cooper remained calm and controlled after the attack and said the incident was similar to what had happened to pro surfer Mick Fanning last year.

“He’s just swimming backwards away from it. I think it (the shark) was tangled up in his legrope. I saw the dorsal and the tail fin thrashing around,” he said.

The shark was a
The shark was a
Cooper Allen was attacked by a shark on the NSW north coast on Monday morning. Photo: 7 News
Cooper Allen was attacked by a shark on the NSW north coast on Monday morning. Photo: 7 News

Mr Webber said the shark was a "massive f-----g thing" that also left Cooper with several "huge" gashes in his right upper thigh about 5cm apart.

He said he isn't a doctor but insists Cooper will be fine.

Cooper is well-known in the local community and was surfing with a dozen of his friends before the monster shark bit him near the rock wall on Lighthouse Drive.

Life Saving NSW spokesperson told Yahoo7 that all Ballina beaches will be closed over the next 24 hours.

The teenager reportedly made his way out of the water and was assisted by a nurse who was at the beach. Photo: 7 News
The teenager reportedly made his way out of the water and was assisted by a nurse who was at the beach. Photo: 7 News
Lennox head, Sharps beach, Shelley beach (Ballina) and Lighthouse beach are now closed. Photo: 7 News
Lennox head, Sharps beach, Shelley beach (Ballina) and Lighthouse beach are now closed. Photo: 7 News

"Lennox head, Sharps beach, Shelley beach (Ballina) and Lighthouse beach are now closed," a spokesperson said.

Beachgoers are urged to stay away from the area until further notice.