Merimbula shark attack: beach closed after woman bitten on NSW far south coast

This is an Eek! moment for me as I'm heading down to Merimbula soon to have a lazy week-long break. Not that I wander past ankle depth in the water...

A swimmer on the New South Wales south coast has been attacked by a shark during an early morning dip.

Emergency services were called to Main Beach in Merimbula around 6.45am after reports of an attack.

Paramedics found a 62-year-old woman at the scene, with puncture wounds on her shoulder, back, hips and buttocks.

NSW Ambulance inspector Robert Whitney said bystanders had spotted fins and a large animal.

“It was pretty clear that it had been a shark attack as paramedics arrived on scene,” he said. “What we could see is that the patient suffered multiple wounds in what would have been a terrifying event.”

The woman was taken to South East Regional Hospital in a stable condition.

Beaches are closed between Wallagoot Lake and Pambula River for the next 24 hours.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries will work with police, paramedics and lifesavers to determine the species of shark responsible for the attack.


https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/13/merimbula-shark-attack-beach-closed-after-woman-bitten-on-nsw-far-south-coast