Lifeguards and state authorities have warned people to avoid entering coastal waters after a 39-year-old surfer, Paul Zvirzdinas, was bitten by a shark at Point Plomer on the 19th January, 2026. Zvirzdinas said a shark bit through his surfboard and knocked him from his board; the board was left with a chunk taken out of it.
Zvirzdinas returned to shore and went to Kempsey District Hospital, where he was treated for minor cuts and grazes and discharged. The incident was described in media reports as the fourth confirmed shark-related event along the New South Wales coast in roughly 48 hours, following incidents around Sydney including at Vaucluse and Manly.
Shark experts and government programs (including NSW SharkSmart/NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) say the recent spike in activity is likely linked to heavy rain and storm runoff. Murky, brackish water after flooding can draw baitfish and opportunistic predators such as bull sharks closer to shore.
Coffs Harbour Lifeguard Service Team Leader Greg Hackfath and other local officials urged caution, particularly near river mouths and in discoloured water. Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce specifically advised people to avoid the ocean while conditions remain poor, saying: “Just go to a local pool” and warning that beaches were unsafe in the current conditions.
Drone surveillance and other SharkSmart monitoring measures have been deployed to track shark movements near popular swimming spots. Residents are encouraged to check the SharkSmart app or website for real-time alerts and to swim at patrolled beaches between the flags when beaches are open.
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