Incident Report
Wobbegong Bite Injures Surfer at Nambucca River Entrance
nambucca river entrance, New South Wales·Australia
A 40-year-old male surfer sustained major lacerations to the calf after an encounter with a wobbegong at the Nambucca River entrance in New South Wales, Australia, in April 2001.
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Incident Profile
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Description
In April 2001, a surfing incident occurred at the Nambucca River entrance, an estuary environment on the New South Wales coast of Australia. A 40-year-old male surfer was bitten by a wobbegong, a bottom-dwelling shark species commonly found in Australian coastal waters. The incident resulted in major lacerations to the victim's calf. The surfer survived the encounter and received medical treatment for the injury. Wobbegongs are typically docile sharks that inhabit rocky reefs and estuary floors; bites by this species are relatively uncommon and usually occur when the animal is provoked or accidentally contacted by people in the water.