Incident Report
Swimmer Bitten at Surf Beach in Batemans Bay, New South Wales
Surf Beach, New South Wales·Australia
A 19-year-old male swimmer suffered a moderate hand injury when bitten by a shark at Surf Beach near Batemans Bay, New South Wales on January 24, 2009. He was treated by lifeguards and later sought medical attention when the wound became infected.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On Saturday, January 24, 2009, a 19-year-old male from Canberra was swimming at Surf Beach near Batemans Bay in New South Wales when he encountered a shark in the Tasman Sea. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. in shallow water approximately one meter deep. The swimmer was in the water between the designated swimming flags and near other swimmers, including children, when the shark latched onto his arm, causing a moderate hand injury. Lifeguards responded immediately and provided on-scene treatment before the victim left the beach. However, the wound subsequently became infected, requiring him to seek additional medical treatment at a later time. The shark species involved was not identified, and shark involvement was not definitively confirmed by investigating authorities. The incident was classified as an unprovoked encounter. The water conditions at the time corresponded with a new moon phase on January 26, 2009.