A WITNESS has recounted how a shark "knocked" David Quinlivan, 65, from his surf ski on Friday. Black Head's Warren Thompson told NSW Surf Lifesaving he saw the incident unfold from the sand. “It would have been around 11.30 or so and I was down there checking out the surf conditions when I saw the paddler fall off the side of his ski,” Mr Thompson said. “Something clearly had knocked him off the ski and he was hanging on to the edge. There were a couple of us on the beach and we all just sprinted to the water to see what we could do to help. “He had lost his paddle but was able to climb back onto the ski and caught a wave to the shore. It looked to us like he was having heart attack. "When we reached him he told us to stay out of the water.” Mr Thompson said he was able to help move Mr Quinlivan before doctors and nurses from a nearby medical centre arrived. “They did a fantastic job to help him," Mr Thompson said. "He was conscious and talking to us but looked in a fair amount of pain.” The NSW Department of Primary Industries will investigate the incident, including the species of shark involved in the attack. The beach will remain shut for 24 hours. A man has been attacked by a shark at Black Head Beach, north of Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast. The victim is 65-year-old Tallwoods man Dave Quinlivan, a regular surfer. He was on a surf ski and was knocked off by the shark before paddling back to shore using the surf ski as a surfboard. It is understood he was dragged to the beach through the shore break. The father of three was assisted ashore, where a doctor believed to be holidaying in the area was on hand. He sustained cuts to his lower calf and a bite down to the bone at his left ankle. His injuries, according to Acting Inspector Mathew Hinton, are not considered life threatening. He was transported to John Hunter Hospital by the Wesptac Rescue Helicopter. Police said he would undergo emergency surgery. The beach will be closed for 24 hours. Mr Quinlivan, a Black Head Surf Club member, was the only one in the surf at the time. Manning River Times
The surfer arrives at the John Hunter Hospital after being bitten by a shark. Pic: Peter Stoop
A WITNESS has recounted how a shark "knocked" David Quinlivan, 65, from his surf ski on Friday.
Black Head's Warren Thompson told NSW Surf Lifesaving he saw the incident unfold from the sand.
“It would have been around 11.30 or so and I was down there checking out the surf conditions when I saw the paddler fall off the side of his ski,” Mr Thompson said.
“Something clearly had knocked him off the ski and he was hanging on to the edge. There were a couple of us on the beach and we all just sprinted to the water to see what we could do to help.
“He had lost his paddle but was able to climb back onto the ski and caught a wave to the shore. It looked to us like he was having heart attack.
"When we reached him he told us to stay out of the water.”
Mr Thompson said he was able to help move Mr Quinlivan before doctors and nurses from a nearby medical centre arrived.
“They did a fantastic job to help him," Mr Thompson said.
"He was conscious and talking to us but looked in a fair amount of pain.”
The NSW Department of Primary Industries will investigate the incident, including the species of shark involved in the attack.
The beach will remain shut for 24 hours.
A man has been attacked by a shark at Black Head Beach, north of Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Pic: Jack Edstein
The victim is 65-year-old Tallwoods man Dave Quinlivan, a regular surfer.
He was on a surf ski and was knocked off by the shark before paddling back to shore using the surf ski as a surfboard.
It is understood he was dragged to the beach through the shore break.
The father of three was assisted ashore, where a doctor believed to be holidaying in the area was on hand.
He sustained cuts to his lower calf and a bite down to the bone at his left ankle.
His injuries, according to Acting Inspector Mathew Hinton, are not considered life threatening.
He was transported to John Hunter Hospital by the Wesptac Rescue Helicopter.
Police said he would undergo emergency surgery.
The beach will be closed for 24 hours.
Mr Quinlivan, a Black Head Surf Club member, was the only one in the surf at the time.
