Randwick beaches closed after surfer is ‘bumped’ by shark at Maroubra Beach

By DANIEL LO SURDO

A surfer was “bumped” by a shark at Maroubra Beach on Tuesday morning in an encounter that has renewed calls to avoid swimming in Sydney’s beaches while flooding continues across the city.

A shark-related incident was reported to Randwick Council lifeguards at about 7:50 am on Tuesday, after a large bite mark was left on a man’s surfboard, with lifeguards later patrolling the water and confirming the shark sighting.

Maroubra Beach was closed at the time following hazardous surf conditions. The surfer did not suffer any injuries and lifeguards were said to be continuing their patrol of the beach.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said, following the incident, that “overcast weather and murky water could increase risk of a shark encounter”, adding that it is “best to stay out of the water while these conditions persist”.

It was later announced by the NSW government’s SharkSmart program that all beaches in the Randwick area would be closed following the encounter.

Randwick Council advise all beaches in their local government area are closed until further notice after a reported shark incident earlier today, 8 Mar 2022. Please be #SharkSmart.

— SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) March 7, 2022

The incident comes just weeks after a fatal shark attack at the nearby Little Bay Beach, which was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, and followed a non-fatal shark encounter at the neighbouring Congwong Beach in 2018.

The previous attack forced closures at all beaches in the Randwick and Waverley area, with lifeguards then tasked with patrolling the beaches for “any further sightings of sharks”.

The man was later identified as diving instructor Simon Nellist, who was a regular swimmer from Wolli Creek.