A 16-year-old boy was mauled by a two-metre shark while swimming near Norris Headland at Cabarita Beach on Sunday afternoon. The attack occurred just before 4pm as the teen swam in ankle-deep water between Tweed Heads and Byron Bay.
Witnesses said the shark injured the boy’s upper right arm, wrist and leg. Beachgoers rushed to pull him from the surf after hearing screams. A Queensland-based off-duty paramedic was among the first responders to reach the boy.
A 16-year-old boy is carried up the beach by fellow surfers after being attacked by a shark at Cabarita Beach, NSW
He suffered serious injuries to the right side of his body including his leg, hand and arm pic.twitter.com/uBCLAqEhP7
— Clown Down Under 🤡 (@clowndownunder) June 30, 2025
Quick-Thinking Bystanders Apply First Aid on the Sand
The rescuers carried the teenager from the water and applied a tourniquet in the beach carpark. Footage from social media shows the boy being hauled ashore with the shark’s fin visible behind the group. Screams rang out as beachgoers sprinted to bring the boy to safety.
Surfers and swimmers circled around the teen as first aid began. The off-duty paramedic, Lauren Stokes, said multiple people played a role. “It was a beautiful afternoon, and then we just heard the commotion in the water,” she said. “There were some very brave surfers and swimmers that came to the young boy’s aid and helped him into shore,” she said.
Bystanders applying first aid on the sand
Teen Remains Stable After Being Airlifted to Hospital
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter transported the teen to Gold Coast University Hospital in serious but stable condition. A second helicopter was deployed to search for the shark following the attack.
Surf Life Saving NSW confirmed the teen was “conscious and breathing” during the response. “A jet ski was used to clear other surfers from the water,” a Surf Life Saving NSW spokesperson said. Drones are expected to continue monitoring the area on Monday.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter transported the teen to Gold Coast University Hospital
Surfers Recall the Frightening Moments in the Water
Surfer Bodhi McDonald said he was in the water with a friend when he spotted the predator. “We just kept surfing and then like as it happened, the kid just started screaming and all the kids surfing near him just started paddling in,” he said.
McDonald described the shark as “about seven foot” in length. “And then as soon as I got in, it swam over to where I was. So, you know, if I didn’t get out in time, I could have got bitten,” he said.
He estimated about 40 surfers were in the water during the attack and confirmed everyone returned to shore quickly.
Officials Commend Rescuers’ Fast Response
Tweed Shire councillor James Owen described the incident as rare. “Getting struck by lightning” was how he characterised the likelihood. He said the shark was spotted in ankle-deep water. “Incredible effort by those people that helped the young boy out water and tended to him before the emergency services arrived,” he said.
“There was some older surfers that were marshalling in the young guys to make sure they got in,” he added.
Lauren Stokes praised the boy’s calm reaction under pressure. “There were significant injuries, enough to be concerned,” she said. “We need to know which one is the most significant, and then we need to apply haemorrhage control,” she said.
“We use whatever we had available at the time to provide that haemorrhage control,” she added. “Further to that, we kept him warm. And then we got him off the beach close to the ambulance,” she said.
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Cabarita Beach Closed for 24 Hours
Authorities closed Cabarita Beach for 24 hours following the incident. Surf Life Saving NSW will continue aerial patrols and use drones to check for further shark activity.
Steve Pearce, Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, said no sharks were spotted during the helicopter sweeps. “There are always a lot of other marine life, following these whales on their migration,” he said. “This time of year produces a fair bit of shark activity,” he added.
He referred to the shark’s presence as a result of seasonal marine traffic. “There’s a super highway of humpback whales going up and down the coast,” he said.
Pearce urged people to remain alert. “The message is for everyone just to be really aware and vigilant and observant,” he said. “Don’t surf on dawn or dusk or at river mouths or in murky water,” he added.
Teen’s Condition Stable, Investigation Ongoing
Emergency services continue to monitor conditions at Cabarita Beach and investigate the incident. The teen remains hospitalised but in a stable condition, with his injuries being treated.
Local officials are urging beachgoers to follow safety guidelines and stay out of the water while warnings remain active.
