Shark attack at Avoca Beach

North and South Avoca

Shark attacks have been in the news a lot lately, usually in far away places on the other side of the country in Western Australia.  But this is the second recent shark attack in NSW and it's unusual.

Kirra

Avoca Beach is a beautiful coastal suburb on the Central Coast of NSW, about 95 kms north of Sydney. It's primarily a residential suburb but many Central Coast residents commute every day to Sydney, prepared to suffer the long drive and hefty fuel bill to live the dream of opting out of the rat race and being close to the sea. Avoca is also a very popular tourist destination and in summer, the beach is usually packed.

When 13 year old Kirra-Belle Olsson went for her early morning surf yesterday morning, she was bitten by a shark.  Her father, Jamie Olsson said she thought it was one of her mates pulling her under and when she started yelling out for help, it let her go.

Kirra, who lives at nearby Copacabana Beach, was wearing her Rip Curl wetsuit when she was bitten which may have helped her.  The shark missed her vital organs but she has a nasty gash on her lower calf and puncture wounds to her foot.

Although lifesavers searched the area on jetskis, there was no sign of the shark.

Her proud father said "She has been surfing since she was 7.....she has won the state title two years in a row....it has not fazed her at all, she's a nutcase....I just wish my sons were as tough as her....I don't think she's afraid of anything."

Surfing runs in the family, Kirra is the niece of pro surfer Matt Wilkinson.