Australian authorities have reported a fourth shark attack in just 48 hours along the New South Wales coast, prompting urgent warnings for residents to avoid the ocean. The latest incident occurred at Point Plomer, where a surfer sustained minor injuries after a shark bit his surfboard and chest. He was quickly assisted by beachgoers and is now in stable condition.

This attack follows three others in the Sydney area, including two serious leg injuries to a man and a child, and a close call for another child whose surfboard was bitten. Beaches in northern New South Wales and northern Sydney have been closed, with electronic shark-alert systems deployed to monitor the waters. Authorities attribute the spike in shark activity to recent rains that have made the water murky and attracted prey closer to shore, increasing the risk of encounters with great white sharks.

Officials are urging the public to stay out of the ocean and use local swimming pools instead, emphasizing that beaches are currently unsafe. The recent attacks have left the community shaken, with closures expected to remain in place for at least another two days.