Shark Attack Leaves Surfer Seriously Injured

A 20-year-old surfer has been seriously wounded after being attacked by a bull shark off the east coast of Australia.

According to local media reports, the man managed to make his own way back to shore where he given help by other beachgoers.

He was bitten on his left thigh while surfing near East Ballina on the New South Wales north coast.

The man was initially taken to a local hospital where he is reportedly in a serious but stable condition, but has since been flown to a larger hospital.

Authorities have closed the beach for a minimum of 24 hours.

There have been 14 unprovoked shark attacks in New South Wales since the start of the year - one of which was fatal.

Most of those incidents occurred near Ballina.

In February, a 41-year-old Japanese tourist bled to death after a shark bit both his legs off while he was waiting to catch a wave.

That attack happened not far from where another swimmer was mauled just days earlier.

The region's local council is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to put in place shark mitigation measures - including animal tagging and education programmes.

Ballina Mayor David Wright told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper he hoped the New South Wales government would now fast-track plans to install eco-shark nets.

"At least now the state government can see we have a problem," he said.

"We should have the nets in place by Christmas.

"People have got to be protected and we've got to get on top of this thing quickly so that Ballina does not become a byword for shark attack."