Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 20, 2026 at 06:48 AM

AI Summary

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A surfer was injured in a shark attack on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, on Tuesday, marking the fourth such incident in the region in under 48 hours. The 39-year-old man sustained a chest wound after a shark bit his board near the Point Plomer campground. This attack follows three others in Sydney over the previous two days, prompting the closure of all northern Sydney beaches. Authorities believe bull sharks, which are common in the area during the summer months, are responsible for most of the attacks. Experts suggest recent heavy rains may have created conditions that attract sharks closer to shore, but emphasize that the cluster of attacks is unusual despite Australia being a shark attack hotspot.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Australian Museum 30% Dee Why Beach 40% Daryl McPhee ×240% Joseph McNulty 40% Manly 40% Point Plomer 40% Steve Pearce ×250% Surf Life Saving NSW 50% Mid North Coast ×260% Australia ×270% Sydney ×580% New South Wales (NSW) ×690%

Keywords

shark attack 100% new south wales 90% australia 80% bull shark 70% surfer 60% heavy rains 50% beach closure 50% mid north coast 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

New South Wales (NSW)

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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shark attack new south wales australia bull shark surfer heavy rains beach closure mid north coast

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