The sighting of a large shark has forced the closure of beaches on the NSW far north coast, one day after a diver was killed by a shark in Tasmania.
The shark was seen on Sunday morning about 50 metres off Angels Beach, near Ballina, prompting authorities to close the beach along with Shelly beach, Lighthouse beach and Angel's Flat Rock.
The beaches are expected to reopen on Monday morning.
"It is believed the presence of baitfish has attracted large sharks to the area," police said.
The sightings and subsequent closures come a day after a Tasmanian man in his late 40s was killed by a large shark in front of his daughter.
The two were diving for scallops near Maria Island on Saturday morning when the attack attacked.
The daughter, who is in her 20s, came to the surface and raised the alarm by setting off a flare and making an emergency phone call.
Help arrived from nearby boaters, who pulled the man from the water using the air hose to which he was attached, Inspector David Wiss said.
"Unfortunately he was fatally injured," he said.
A 4.5 metre white pointer shark was seen by fisherman in the area on Friday but it is still not known what type of shark was responsible for the first fatal attack in Tasmanian waters in 22 years.
People have been warned to stay out of the water.
Share
