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A DPI shark biologist has inspected the bite pattern and identified that a great white shark was most likely involved in the attack at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie on Saturday evening.
It’s estimated the shark was about 2.7 metres in length. The attack occurred at about 5.10pm, near Watonga Rocks off Lighthouse Beach.
Port Macquarie father, 36-year-old Dale Carr, was pulled to shore by mates and received assistance from bystanders before paramedics arrived.
Life Saving NSW Mid North Coast branch duty officer Ryan Rosenbaum, who arrived to the scene about 15 minutes after the victim was brought to shore from about 400 metres off Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club, said ambulance paramedics and police were already assisting the victim.
"Another bodyboarder had pulled him [the victim] to shore where another member of the public took off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound to stem the blood loss. It was a deep wound, but he was conscious and breathing [on his own] when I arrived," Mr Rosenbaum said.
Doctors from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service landed at Port Macquarie at 6.30pm and assessed the man, expecting to fly him to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital for surgery, but ultimately he did not need to be transported.
A spokesman from the helicopter service said the man had a "severe laceration to his left buttock and thigh".
"The doctors and surgeons up there were able to basically do the repair and he stayed at Port Macquarie," the spokesman said.
Mr Carr remains in Port Macquarie Base Hospital in a satisfactory condition.
DPI is now working with NSW Police and Surf Life Saving NSW to monitor the area and provide any technical advice and resources as required.
