SYDNEY–A man was attacked by a shark on Australia’s east coast Thursday, close to where a Japanese surfer was killed earlier this year, rescue officials said.
Emergency crews were called shortly after 10am (0000 GMT) after being alerted to the 25-year-old being mauled off Ballina, a popular tourist spot some 187 kilometers (116 miles) south of Brisbane.
“We received a call about a 25-year-old man being bitten by a shark at Lighthouse Beach,” a New South Wales ambulance spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse
“A helicopter and paramedics are on the scene. It looks like he was bitten on the legs.”
His condition was not immediately known although reports said he was critical.
The attack was in the same area where Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara, 41, died from massive leg injuries after being bitten by a shark in February.
READ: Surfer killed after shark bites off legs in Australia
Sharks are a regular feature in Australian waters, and swimmers and surfers have had their share of encounters with the animals this year, with the most recent attack in April west of Adelaide.
Experts say attacks are increasing as water sports become more popular but fatalities remain rare.