Shark Attack at Port Noarlunga Leaves Swimmer Critically Injured

Swimmer Bitten Near Popular Jetty

A man in his 60s is in a critical but stable condition after being bitten by a shark near the jetty at Port Noarlunga, about 40 minutes south of Adelaide. Emergency services were called to the scene around 9:45am on Thursday. The man suffered a serious thigh injury and was rushed to hospital after receiving treatment from paramedics.

Swimmers were quickly evacuated from the water, and authorities have advised the public to avoid the area for now.

Locals Shaken as Familiar Reef Comes Into Question

This isn’t the first shark incident in the area. In 2023, a student was bitten on the head in the same waters. Locals like Neil Errey and Bob Newman, who regularly swim at the beach, expressed concern that sharks now appear on the shore-side of the reef—an area previously thought to be safe.

“Maybe we need to tell ourselves a new story,” said Newman, who heard sirens just after finishing his morning swim.

Algal Bloom May Be Altering Marine Behavior

Some experts suspect a link between recent toxic algal blooms and unusual marine activity. Several sharks have washed ashore in recent months, prompting marine scientists to investigate whether biotoxins are affecting the animals. Professor Charlie Huveneers emphasized that more data is needed before drawing firm conclusions.

Still, the community is left grappling with uncertainty: is this a one-off incident, or part of a worrying trend?