KEY POINTS

  • The victim suffered injuries to his lower right forearm
  • He was taken to a hospital where he received stitches
  • The Avoca and North Avoca beaches were closed after the attack

A 14-year-old surfer was bitten by a shark, which was most likely a great white, in Western Australia Wednesday. The incident has since prompted the closure of multiple beaches in the area.

The teenager was at the Central Coast beach in New South Wales (NSW) when he came into the shark's mercy. He sustained lacerations on his lower right forearm as a result of the incident, LADbible reported.

The victim was rushed to Gosford Hospital following the attack, which took place on the North Avoca beach. He got stitches for the lacerations before he was discharged, according to the Courier Mail.

The Central Coast Council then announced on Twitter that the Avoca and North Avoca beaches were ordered closed following the incident. "Avoca and North Avoca beaches are currently closed following a shark bite incident at approx. 10.30am today," it wrote. "Our thoughts are with the young surfer involved. Please avoid both beaches at this time until the incident can be investigated further."

Experts believed the shark involved in the attack was most possibly a great white. "Shark biologists have assessed photographs of the teenager's injuries and surfboard and have determined the bite indentations are indicative of a white shark," a spokesperson from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said, as per the outlet. "Thankfully the wounds weren't fatal, and after being rushed to Gosford Hospital the young surfer was discharged later today."

Non-profit Surf Life Saving NSW sent out a drone to the area in search of the shark that bit the boy, but the creature was not located.

It's not yet clear how long the beaches will be closed, but local visitors are advised to follow the SharkSmart Twitter page for the latest updates.

In August, a 13-year-old boy had to receive 10 stitches on his lips after a terrifying encounter with a shark while he was catching lobsters in the Florida Keys. The teen, identified as Fischer Hricko, was trying to reel in a lobster when the shark appeared out of nowhere and launched an attack. The predator latched onto his face and chomped on his lips before he could wrestle himself out of its hold and swim back to his boat. The teen's father pulled him onto the boat and rushed him to the hospital.

boat-2435056_640 (1)
Representative image of a great white shark Pixabay
Australia