4 shark attacks in 48 hours injure swimmers, surfers in eastern Australia

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Four shark attacks within 48 hours at beaches across Australia’s eastern New South Wales state have left two people critically injured, prompting widespread beach closures, local media reported Tuesday.

According to public broadcaster ABC, two of the four encounters resulted in victims being hospitalized in critical condition, while the other two people escaped without serious injury.

“If you're thinking about going for a swim, just go to a local pool because at this stage, we're advising that the beaches are unsafe,” Steve Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving New South Wales, said.

Police said a 12-year-old boy was rescued Sunday near Shark Beach in Sydney after sustaining severe leg injuries. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Marine Area Command Superintendent Joseph McNulty said Sunday that a “combination of the brackish water, the fresh water, the actions of the splashing may have made that perfect storm environment for that shark attack.”

On Monday, an 11-year-old boy escaped a shark encounter at Dee Why Beach without injury, though a “large” 15-centimeter bite was found on his surfboard.

Hours later, a 27-year-old surfer suffered severe leg injuries after being attacked near North Steyne Beach in Manly and was hospitalized in critical condition.

Another surfer on the state’s Mid North Coast on Tuesday escaped with minor wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said recent coastal weather “continues to create conditions that significantly increase the likelihood of shark activity, especially bull sharks that are more active.”

All beaches in the Northern Beaches council area along Sydney’s northern coastline have been closed, according to ABC.