All beaches south of Forster around the Booti Booti and Pacific Palms area on the Lower North Coast will reopen from 12:30pm today, Friday.
Following Thursday’s shark attack on a 65-year-old local surfer, Seven Mile Beach, Elizabeth, Boomerang and Blueys Beaches were all closed to the public for at least 24 hours with warning signs erected by staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and local lifeguards.
The man who was surfing at an isolated break off Booti Booti at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach at around 9:30am yesterday when he encountered what was later confirmed as a great white shark suffered lacerations to his foot and hand.
His board was also damaged in the incident and he was later transported to hospital and is expected to make a quick recovery.
The decision to reopen the beaches has been made in consultation with local stakeholders including MidCoast Council, Police, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Primary Industries.
Prior to the signage being removed, lifeguards from the Australian Lifeguard Service will be doing a sweep of the area on a jet ski.
Local surf clubs across the Lower North Coast Branch will be on patrol this weekend with the public being urged to swim at a patrolled location.
