Teenage surfer bitten by small shark in Australia

SYDNEY— A teenage girl sustained minor wounds when she was bitten by a small shark on Friday while surfing off the Australian east coast, police said.

The 13-year-old girl was surfing off Avoca Beach, 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Sydney, when she was bitten on the left ankle by a 1-meter (3.5-foot) shark, police said in a statement.

She sustained puncture wounds to her foot and a cut to her calf. The girl made her way to shore and was treated on scene by bystanders, who then drove her to a hospital. She was in stable condition, police said.

Police did not release the girl’s name or identify the type of shark.

Life guards advised beachgoers to avoid entering the water near Avoca Beach.

Two weeks ago, a surfer had part of his arm torn off by a suspected 4-meter (13-foot) great white shark while surfing off the coast of Western Australia state near the town of Esperance.

Although sharks are common in Australian waters, the country has averaged fewer than two fatal attacks per year in recent decades.