A news crew flying over Byron Bay signalled to a group of young surfers to get out of the water on Saturday after spotting a four-metre shark heading straight for them, days after two shark attacks in the area.
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Bodyboarder Matt Lee, 32, was left in a critical condition after a great white shark bit both his legs at Lighthouse Beach in Ballina on Thursday, while a 52-year-old man escaped unharmed the next day when a shark knocked him off his board at Lennox Head, about 10 kilometres further north.
On Saturday, a journalist aboard a Seven News helicopter said those on board had spotted a four-metre great white shark near surfers off Wategos Beach.
SHARK SIGHTING: 4m Great White shark spotted by #7News helicopter at Watego’s Beach in Byron Bay— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney)
July 4, 2015
Journalist Katrina Blowers tweeted the shark was heading "straight for" a group of four young surfers before the news crew intervened, hovering low over the waves and trying to scare the shark further out to sea.
"We got down low and signalled for surfers to head to shore," the reporter posted to Twitter on Saturday afternoon.
"Shark was heading straight for kids on their boards."
We got down low and signalled for surfers to head to shore. Shark was heading straight for kids on their boards. @7NewsBrisbane— Katrina Blowers (@katrinablowers)
July 4, 2015
Hundreds of young surfers are competing in a junior surfing competition at Lennox Head this weekend, the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open 2015.
The Department of Primary Industries has authorised a permit to destroy the great white shark that attacked Mr Lee, after it was clear the shark had remained in the area hours after the attack, and still posed a safety risk.