Man critical after being bitten by a shark at North Steyne Beach in third incident in two days

By Jean Kennedy and Paulina Vidal, ABC News Photo: ABC News A man is in a critical condition after another shark attack in Sydney. Emergency services were called to North Steyne Beach in Manly, on the northern beaches, just after 6pm on Monday after reports a surfer had been bitten by a shark. NSW Police said in a statement the man was believed to be in his 20s and was treated for serious leg injuries. "The man was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of emergency services," the statement said. He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. Multiple medical resources were deployed to the scene to treat him, including intensive care paramedics. The Toll rescue helicopter was also on stand-by and the drone response team was dispatched to conduct surveillance. All northern beaches have been closed until further notice. It is the third shark attack in Sydney in just over 24 hours, in what Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive officer Steve Pearce called "unprecedented". He said lifesavers were just getting over the earlier attack at Dee Why when they received another alert. "Straight away we started texting each other saying, 'Is this correct or not?", Pearce said. "I can't ever remember three shark incidents occurring within 24 hours, but I have to say the water conditions at the moment are really conducive to shark activity." He said that first responders were confronted with a "traumatic and horrendous scene". But it was thanks to their quick action that the surfer had been given a good chance of survival after losing a lot of blood. Photo: ABC News "When our team got on scene, we found a victim that had been retrieved from the water," he said. "He was in a serious condition and so our life savers and other personnel commenced CPR on the gentleman whilst deploying a tourniquet, until the ambulance paramedics and helicopter could arrive. "So, really severe injuries to the lower limbs. My understanding was it was quite disturbing and horrendous damage to one of the limbs." Due to the murky water conditions drones and the organisation's state-of-the art shark equipment were not able to identify any marine life at the beach at the time. But Pearce said their efforts would be increased over the next few days. "In discussions with government and council, we'll be deploying our Westpac Lifesaver rescue helicopter, it will be specifically be flying surveillance up and down the northern beaches for the next two days. "We'll be increasing substantially our drone surveillance shark program over the next 48 hours as well, just to ensure that the public confidence and to make sure that we do keep an eye on all the beaches." Photo: ABC News / Gavin Coote He is also urging surfers and swimmers to stay out of the water for the next 48 hours. Local member for Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane said beachgoers were right to be alarmed after the spate of incidents. "While it's too early to determine whether these are tragic coincidences or part of a more concerning trend, the government must immediately further increase drone surveillance until we address the risk to swimmers and surfers," she said in a statement. People waving surfboards to get attention of lifeguards Harley is a local surfer. He told the ABC he saw a lot of commotion and some people giving the victim CPR. "I think trying to keep him alive, it's not looking great," he said. "I think he was out in the surf and I think it could have been a bull shark but not too sure." Photo: ABC News / Gavin Coote Knowing it was the third attack since Sunday, he said, was "pretty scary, because we go out here most days, it's not great". Another local, Luca, was walking along the beach talking to a friend on the phone when he saw people running. "I saw a commotion on the sand, people waving surfboards in the air trying to get the attention of lifeguards," he said. "And then I ran onto the beach to make sure that it wasn't anybody that I knew." He said he knew straight away it was a shark attack. "I heard someone say 'Someone's drowned', and I knew straight away it was shark. "Feeling pretty rattled, just trying to get an update if this person is OK and alive. "But obviously, just being a surfer from around the area, you want to make sure that it's nobody that you know." Photo: ABC News Two young boys involved in separate shark attacks It comes after a 12-year-old boy was attacked at a harbour beach at Vaucluse on Sunday, where he suffered critical injuries to both his legs. He remains in intensive care at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. The DPIRD said in a statement they believed that a bull shark was involved. "DPIRD shark scientists are unable to definitively confirm the species based on photos of the injury," it said. "However they believe a bull shark was likely responsible based on the nature of the injuries and the environmental conditions at the site." Another boy escaped...

Man critical after being bitten by a shark at North Steyne Beach in third incident in two days

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