Shark attack: WA authorities close Margaret River beaches after surfer bitten on the leg
- Surfer in his early 20s taken to hospital
- Onlookers claimed he was ‘bloody lucky’
- Local beaches closed until further notice
Several popular beaches in Western Australia have been closed after a surfer was bitten on the leg by a shark.
The attack happened at Gnarabup Beach near the Boat Ramp surfing spot in the Margaret River region shortly before 9am Monday.
The surfer aged in his early 20s managed to swim to shore where he received first aid from an off-duty nurse to a deep gash to his leg after the attack by a shark suspected to be a great white.
He was later driven to Margaret River Hospital and has since been transferred by ambulance to Bunbury, where he’s in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
A shocked onlooker told the West Australian the surfer was ‘bloody lucky it wasn’t worse’ and that he appeared ‘calm’ after he made it to shore and sought help at a nearby cafe.
The terrifying ordeal happened near Gnarabup Beach (pictured) in WA’s Margaret River region
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said it was ‘working with local authorities and further information will be provided as it becomes available’.
Swimmers in the Gnarabup and Prevelly areas have been advised to ‘take additional caution’.
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has closed all beaches from Gas Bay to Margaret River Mouth until further notice.
‘To ensure the safety of our community, please do not enter the water during this time,’ an alert on its website states.
‘The DPIRD is currently coordinating responses with local authorities.’
It’s understood the surfer was bitten by a suspected great white shark (stock image)
