Surfer Injured Amid Surge of Shark Attacks in NSW

Tue Jan 20 2026 23:27:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A surfer suffers minor injuries in the fourth shark attack in New South Wales in less than 48 hours, prompting beach closures and public advisories.

A recent shark attack on a surfer near Crescent Head marks the fourth incident along New South Wales' coastline within 48 hours. The surfer, a 39-year-old man, received minor injuries and is in stable condition. In light of these attacks, all northern Sydney beaches remain closed as authorities urge caution amid deteriorating water conditions due to heavy rains.

A surfer has been bitten by a shark, becoming the fourth victim along Australia's New South Wales (NSW) coastline in under 48 hours.

The 39-year-old man suffered minor cuts after being bitten while surfing near Crescent Head on Tuesday morning. Reports indicate he is currently in a stable condition at a local hospital.

This incident follows three other shark attacks in Sydney over the preceding two days, prompting police to announce that all beaches in the northern Sydney area will remain closed until further notice.

Authorities speculate that the recent heavy rains may have contributed to the surge in shark activity, as Superintendent Joseph McNulty noted that rain flushes nutrients into the water, potentially attracting sharks closer to the shore.

The latest attack occurred near the Point Plomer campground, about 450km (279 miles) north of Sydney. Steve Pearce, the chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, remarked that the surfer was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries. We strongly advocate that nobody swim or surf near river mouths, as these tend to be areas where sharks congregate, Pearce warned.

Earlier incidents included a young surfer at Dee Why Beach who narrowly avoided serious injury on Monday, contrasted by another attack at Manly hours later that left a 27-year-old with life-altering injuries. A 12-year-old boy was also critically injured at a popular beach in Sydney Harbour over the weekend.

Authorities suspect that bull sharks are involved in several of these attacks. The Australian Museum classifies bull sharks as one of the few potentially dangerous shark species to humans and they rank as the third deadliest type according to the International Shark Attack File.

Despite being known as a global shark attack hotspot, the odds of being bitten remain extremely low in Australia. Police continue to advise the public against entering waterways in NSW due to the increased risks associated with poor water quality and visibility following the recent weather conditions.

I would recommend avoiding swimming in the harbour or other river systems across NSW at this time, Superintendent Joseph McNulty reiterated during a press conference.