JUNIOR SURFING CHAMPION IN INDUCED COMA AFTER SHARK ATTACK

He suffered serious wounds to his left thigh and was treated at the scene before being taken to Ballina Airport and airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital at about 7.30pm.

He underwent surgery before being placed in an induced coma in a stable condition.

It is believed Mr Morgan, who had competed in the World Surf League junior qualifying series earlier this year, was attacked by a Bull shark between 2.8 to 3.1 metres long.

Police say they will be liaising with Surf Lifesaving, Ballina Shire Council and the Department of Primary Industries following the incident.

[s3bubbleVideoSingle bucket=”nbnnews” track=”shark-off-Ballina.mp4″ aspect=”16:9″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” cloudfront=”” start=”false” finish=”false” /]

All beaches in the Ballina Shire remain closed today.

Surfing NSW has sent its “prayers and thoughts” to Mr Morgan via social media.

“Our thoughts are with you and the entire North Coast surfing community.”

At least 14 shark attacks have been recorded in NSW this year, including a serious attack on bodyboarder Mat Lee in July at the same beach and a fatality nearby, when 41-year-old Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara was killed at Shelly Beach on February 9.