Fourth Shark Attack in 3 Days Prompts Beach Closures Across Australia’s New South Wales Coast [WATCH]

Australian authorities closed multiple beaches and deployed electronic drumlines after a surfer narrowly escaped a shark attack on Tuesday, marking the fourth shark incident in just three days along the coast of New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, as reported by Fox News.

The latest attack occurred around 9 a.m. at Point Plomer, roughly 290 miles north of Sydney, according to officials. A 39-year-old surfer suffered minor cuts after a shark struck his surfboard.

“The board seemed to take most of the impact,” said Matt Worrall, captain of the Kempsey–Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club, in comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“He made his own way onto shore, where he was assisted by locals.”

Bystanders transported the surfer to a hospital, where he was treated and later released.

The incident followed a series of shark encounters along the New South Wales coastline over the previous two days.

On Sunday and Monday, a man and a boy suffered critical leg injuries in separate attacks near Sydney. In another incident, a boy escaped unharmed after a shark bit his surfboard.

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In response, authorities closed beaches along the northern New South Wales coast and in northern Sydney, saying the closures would remain in place for at least 48 hours.

Officials also deployed electronic drumlines offshore, which are designed to alert authorities when large sharks are detected.

“If anyone’s thinking of heading into the surf this morning anywhere along the northern beaches, think again. We have such poor water quality that’s really conducive to some bull shark activity,” said Steve Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW.

“If you’re thinking about going for a swim, just go to a local pool because at this stage, we’re advising that beaches are unsafe,” Pearce added.

Authorities believe bull sharks may be responsible for several of the recent attacks near Sydney.

Officials cited heavy rainfall that has increased murky freshwater runoff into Sydney Harbour, conditions known to attract bull sharks closer to shore.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Sunday when a 12-year-old boy was attacked after jumping from a 20-foot ledge known as Jump Rock near Shark Beach.

Police said the boy survived after friends immediately jumped into the water and pulled him to shore. Local media reported that the child lost both legs.

“He is in for the fight of his life now, and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance,” said Superintendent Joseph McNulty of the New South Wales Police Marine Area Command.

Dozens of beaches along Australia’s east coast, including in Sydney, closed after four shark attacks in two days, as heavy rains left waters murky and more likely to attract the animals https://t.co/0M2lKrXOTM pic.twitter.com/5Nat1Tq0nB

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 20, 2026

On Monday, an 11-year-old boy escaped unharmed after a shark bit his surfboard at Dee Why Beach. Later that evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg at North Steyne Beach and was hospitalized in critical condition.

Sydney’s northern beaches, including Dee Why and North Steyne, remained closed Tuesday. Officials said it was unclear whether the attacks occurred near shark netting.

Four shark attacks occurred in New South Wales within 48 hours, leaving two people critically injured in what experts describe as unprecedented circumstances. NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has rejected calls for a shark cull, instead directing residents to use the… pic.twitter.com/MpMpjJFa8N

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) January 20, 2026

Pearce noted that the Point Plomer area is isolated and does not have protective nets.

Dee Why Beach is near the location where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected great white shark last September.

In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed and her partner seriously injured in another attack north of Sydney.

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