THE victim of a horrific shark attack off the NSW North Coast this morning was a Japanese national enjoying a dream new life in Australia.

Tadashi Nakahara, 41, died from his injuries after being attacked by a massive shark off Ballina’s popular Shelly Beach about 8.45am Queensland time Monday.

media_camera Tadashi Nakahara: shark attack victim.

About four other surfers in the area tried to help Mr Nakahara to shore but he died from blood loss after the shark severed both legs and took a large chunk from his board.

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Mr Nakahara lived by himself in Ballina and worked locally.

He was a passionate board rider who regularly surfed in the area.

Police were working with Japanese consular officials to notify his relatives in Japan.

It was the second shark attack in the area in the space of two days.

Police have called in a shark expert and have confirmed the area’s beaches will remain closed until at least tomorrow.

It is understood the surfer was sitting on his board only about 10 metres from the beach when the large shark came from out of nowhere just before 10am.

Police have confirmed that some video was shot at Shelly Beach but say it was likely to have been filmed after the attack.

media_camera Local Carmel McInnerney with a rose for the surfer who was fatally mauled by a shark at Shelly Beach in Ballina this morning. Pics Tim Marsden

Lifeguards have spent the day scouring the water in a bid to locate the shark responsible for the attack and beaches from Lennox Head to South Ballina remain closed.

Police haven’t ruled out the possibility that the shark is responsible for a non-fatal shark attack which happened 25km north of Ballina yesterday morning.

But experts say it’s unlikely to be the same shark.

Jebez Reitman, 35, is recovering from a bloody shark bite, and says he is feeling rattled after learning of this morning’s fatal attack from a friend who actually witnessed it.

Today’s attack is the third shark fatality in 10 months in NSW.