A man has been killed in a shark attack off the coast of Australia, in what is thought to be the country’s first fatal attack of the year. 

Medics were called to Tuncurry beach, off the New South Wales coast, close to 11am on Tuesday morning following reports of an attack.

The man, a surfer believed to be in his 50s, suffered critical injuries to his upper right thigh.

He was pulled from the water by onlookers.

Five ambulance teams were spotted at the scene and paramedics performed CPR on the man.

New South Wales Ambulance confirmed he was unable to be resuscitated “despite the best efforts of paramedics and bystanders at the scene”.

The man’s name has not yet been released.

Tuncurry beach and nearby Forster Main Beach have been closed, and police have said they are working with government authorities to identify the species of shark.

The incident is Australia’s first fatal shark attack this year, according to the Taronga Conservation Society.

It was initially believed a man had been killed by a shark on the Limestone Coast in January, after a torn wetsuit and flippers were found in the water.

But further investigations suggested 32-year-old Duncan Crawe had in fact died from an undisclosed medical cause before his body was eaten by a shark.

Eight people were killed by shark attacks in Australia last year.

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