Bodyboarder seriously injured after shark attack in Australia
A bodyboarder has been seriously injured in a shark attack off the New South Wales coast in Australia.
The attack occurred at 5pm on Saturday at a beach south of Port Macquarie, which is 386km north of Sydney.
See also: World's worst shark attacks
The 38-year-old was helped out of the water and treated at the scene for injuries to his stomach and back that were initially thought to be life-threatening.
He was flown to hospital, where he is now in a stable condition.
According to ABC News, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has initiated its Shark Incident Response Plan following the attack.
A staff member has been sent to Port Macquarie to identify the shark type from the bite pattern and forensic information.
The Guardian reports that Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling said initial reports suggested the man was attacked by a three-metre bull shark but that the scientists were working to confirm this.
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