Shark attack: Bodyboarder Zac Young killed after attack off Campbells Beach in NSW

Updated

A teenager bodyboarding with friends has been killed in a shark attack north of Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid north coast.

Zac Young, 19, died at Campbell's Beach after receiving severe leg injuries on Saturday.

It is understood he had been bodyboarding with friends at a popular spot called The Well, about 200 metres off Riecks Point, when he was attacked by what authorities suspect was a bull shark.

Police say the bodyboarders were sitting upright when Young was bitten on the legs.

"He managed to struggle with the shark for a short time. The shark has let go," police spokeswoman Joanne Reid said.

Police say his friends "courageously" managed to drag him back to the beach where he was treated by paramedics, but he had lost too much blood.

A NSW ambulance spokesperson says Young died of traumatic cardiac arrest following the attack.

"Attempts were made to resuscitate him when he was brought to the shore, but he died at the scene," the spokesperson said.

Coffs Harbour Council lifeguard team leader Greg Hackfath says the reef is a popular spot for body boarders but shark attacks are rare in the area.

"I can only recall, in the 35 years I've been here, of two shark attacks, both of those were only little," he said.

"It's very, very unusual. We don't know details of what type of shark it is yet but it could be a rogue shark that has just been traveling through the area.

"He could have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. We will probably never know that."

Mr Hackfath says the attack will shock the community.

"It is going to have ramifications through the whole community for a long time to come," he said.

Beaches on the mid north coast will remain closed for 24 hours.

The death comes just a week after Queensland surfer Chris Boyd, 35, was killed by a shark while surfing the Umbies break off Gracetown, about 270 kilometres south of Perth.

Map: Campbells Beach shark attack

Topics: animal-attacks, human-interest, coffs-harbour-2450, nsw, australia

First posted