RED BLUFF, Australia, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Australian fishery officials have closed a remote beach on the nation's west coast following a shark attack on a surfer.
Jonathan Hines, 34, was seriously injured but expected to live after a shark bit him in the abdomen and right arm. A surfing instructor pulled Hines from the waters off the rural surf spot about 620 miles north of Perth Tuesday. Hines was rushed by helicopter to a Perth hospital where he was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
It is the sixth shark attack in western Australia this year. The other five were fatal, ABC said.
Fish and wildlife experts were only able to speculate about the species of shark that attacked Hines. The area is most commonly populated by tiger sharks, said Tony Cappelluti of the Australian fisheries department. He noted it isn't possible to rule out a great white shark because they have at times been spotted traveling as far north as Red Bluff.
Given the remote location, officials said hunting the shark is not possible. The beach remains closed while boats patrol the area.
"It's a very remote location. Resources are a bit thin up there," Cappelluti said.
