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`Sea turned red` in shark attack

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A TEENAGE boy has told lifesavers the sea turned red after his 16-year-old friend was fatally attacked by a large shark while surfing at Ballina in northern NSW.

The boy, from Wollongbar, west of Ballina, died after being bitten on the legs and body while bodyboarding with his friend at Ballina`s popular Lighthouse Beach about 8am (AEST) today.

Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman Stephen Leahy said the friend had described the moments after the attack.

"One boy indicated to his mate that he was in trouble and his mate went over and as he approached him he saw the water was beginning to turn red," Mr Leahy said.

The boy went for help at a nearby beach tower, where lifeguards raised the alarm.

"The boy was dragged up out of the water and onto the sand, shortly after emergency services arrived, but there was nothing we could do to save that boy`s life," Mr Leahy said.

Detective Inspector Steve Clark said the teenager was being considered for a bravery medal.

"Despite seeing (a large dark shadow), he`s still gone to his friend, retrieved him, brought him back to the shore and attempted to revive him," Insp Clark said

He said the two bites caused massive blood loss.

Mr Leahy also indicated that the shark was very large.

The friend was later discharged from hospital but was suffering shock.

Rough seas and poor visibility have delayed any search for the shark.

Local man Bill Stephens, who fishes regularly in the area, said he believed shark warning signs should be erected at the beach, which is near the north wall - a breakwater at the entrance to the Richmond River.

"I can`t remember the last time a shark killed someone here," he said.

"But they should have warning signs, of course they should."

All beaches in Ballina had been closed as a precaution.

Craig Roberts from Surf Life Saving NSW said lifeguards performed well in the traumatic situation.

"Certainly it`s one of those things that you`re trained for but hopefully it never happens as well," he said.

"The lifeguards did an excellent job and worked with the ambulance and the police service, but obviously it is a traumatic experience."

The boy was surfing 50 metres out from shore at the time of the attack, he said.

Mr Roberts said the beach was normally patrolled, but crews had not started patrolling for the day.

Surfers` websites say North Wall beach, just north of the Richmond River estuary, is popular, but they warn of the danger from sharks.

However Mr Roberts said it was not common for sharks to be present off North Wall beach at this time of year.

"Earlier on in the year there was a very heightened risk in the Byron (Bay) area in which we put some additional measures with jet skis and helicopters in the area," he said.

"But at this time of year it`s generally not a high prone (high prone) season for the sharks."

A worker at a nearby caravan park said bull sharks had also been recently spotted swimming in the Richmond River.

In-depth special: All the latest shark news

The beaches around Ballina have been the scene of many shark attacks and sightings in the past.
In January, three beaches in the Lennox Head area were temporarily cleared after sharks were spotted.

Late in October, one Lennox Head beach was closed as sharks lurked offshore.

Also in October, a woman on a sea kayak was attacked by a shark in the surf at nearby Byron Bay.

A boogie boarder suffered serious leg injuries when he was bitten by a shark off Shelly Beach at Ballina in February last year.

In 2001 a surfer was knocked off his board by a bronze whaler shark at Lennox Head but he survived.

- with The Daily Telegraph

 

 

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