A 32-year-old man was attacked around 10am today (Thursday) morning, surfing North Wall, Ballina, NSW North Coast.

He was airlifted to Gold Coast University hospital, with injuries to his lower legs classed as ‘severe’. Reports state that at least one tooth was found in the wound.

The incident follows a fatal attack in February this year in Ballina, when 41-year-old Tadashi Nakahara died after being attacked at nearby Shelly Beach, by a bull shark. Back in 2008, a 16-year-old died after a shark attack at the southern end of Lighthouse Beach next to the Ballina breakwater.