SYDNEY, Australia – A snorkeler was bitten in the leg by what authorities believe was a shark Monday, a day after two surfers were attacked by sharks in separate incidents across Australia.
The 25-year-old man was floating Monday in waters off Windang, in southern New South Wales state, when he felt something tugging on his right leg, Lake Illawarra Police Sgt. John Klepczarek said, adding it was "highly likely" the culprit was a shark.
The man flagged down a nearby boat and he was taken to a hospital for treatment of several puncture wounds to his calf. He was in stable condition.
A teenage girl and a man were injured Sunday in separate shark attacks.
Hannah Mighall, 13, was twice dragged under water by a 16-foot white pointer shark while surfing in Tasmania state, Police Senior Sgt. Jason Elmer said.
Her adult cousin Syb Mundy punched the shark to make it release the girl before dragging her onto his surfboard and paddling to the beach, Elmer said.
Jono Beard, 31, paddled his board to shore after a shark bit his left thigh Sunday off a remote beach in New South Wales, lifeguard coordinator Stephen Leahy said.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Monday that Beard lost a chunk of flesh up to 16 inches wide and 4 inches deep.
The attacks were the first since Dec. 27, 2008, when a 51-year-old man was killed while snorkeling off Australia's west coast.
Although sharks are often spotted off Australia's beaches, fatal attacks are rare. Only two people were killed by sharks in Australia last year.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox