Woman in her 20s is mauled by an enormous shark on popular NSW beach  

A woman has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after she was mauled by a shark at a popular beach on the New South Wales Coast. 

The 20-year-old woman was swimming at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when she was attacked about 9.30am.

Emergency services rushed to the beach where the woman was found with significant lacerations to her right leg.  

The 20-year-old woman was swimming at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast when her leg was attacked by the shark about 9.30am

It is the third serious attack NSW Ambulance has responded to in recent months.

A Westpac chopper will meet paramedics and the victim at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. 

Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack.

‘Beaches in Port Macquarie will be closed for the day due to a shark attack at Shelly Beach,’ Port Macquarie ALS Lifeguards wrote on Facebook.

‘‬A helicopter is currently en route. No swimming or surfing today please.’  

The long stretch of sandy white beach located on the NSW mid-north coast is surrounded by rainforests and popular among families and tourists.

It is ideal for families with small children, with plenty of shade to set up for the day.

Lifeguards at Port Macquarie have closed beaches in the area following the attack

Shelly Beach is also popular for weddings as there is hand-carved sculptural timber furniture including King and Queen Chairs and an entrance archway at Harry’s lookout.   

There have been five fatal shark attacks in Australian waters in 2020.

One of them was in WA in January, when experienced diver Gary Johnson, 57, was taken near Cull Island, close to West Beach in Esperance.

In July, a 10-year-old boy suffered shock and cuts when a shark ripped him from a fishing boat about five kilometres offshore from Stanley in northwest Tasmania.