Emergency services have praised the quick thinking of a bystander who they say saved the life of a man who was attacked by a shark on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.

The man and a woman, international tourists aged in their 20s, were swimming at Crowdy Bay near Kylies Beach campground at about 6:30am when they were attacked by a shark.

Despite the help of bystanders on the beach, the woman died before paramedics arrived.

NSW Paramedics were able to treat the man, who was flown to John Hunter Hospital and he’s now in a serious, but stable condition.

Shark experts believe the shark is a bull shark.

Fisheries officers and scientists at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are supporting the police investigation into the attack.

Police tape closes pedestrian access to Kylie’s Beach during the shark attack investigation. (ABC Mid North Coast: Marina Trajkovich)

In a statement, DPIRD said: “Based on forensic analysis, DPIRD shark scientists have determined a large bull shark was likely to have been involved.

“DPIRD has deployed five SMART drumlines this morning at Kylies Beach and will continue to work with authorities to monitor the area and provide technical advice and resources, if needed.”

SMART drumlines are baited buoys that emit a warning to fisheries contractors when a shark is captured, triggering an operation to tag the captured shark with a device that tracks shark movements past listening stations.

SMART drumlines alert fisheries contractors when sharks are caught. (ABC News: Charles Rushforth)

They advised there were no shark detections at neighbouring tagged shark listening stations at Forster, Old Bar and Port Macquarie Thursday morning.

Manning/Great Lakes Police District Chief Inspector Timothy Bayly said families of the victim were still being contacted.

Chief Inspector Bayly said formal identification of the woman is yet to take place. (ABC News)

“At this stage, the woman is believed to be aged within her mid-20s,” he said, confirming the man and the woman attacked by the shark were known to each other.

NSW Ambulance Mid North Coast zone manager Superintendent Josh Smyth said multiple ambulance resources attended the scene.

“Just a shout-out to the bystander on the beach who had a makeshift tourniquet on the male’s leg, which potentially saved his life,”

he said.

“The courage from bystanders in this situation is amazing. To put yourself out there is very heroic.”

Joshua Smyth says a bystander may have saved the life of the man. (ABC News)

“Attending any incident involving traumatic injuries, shark attack injuries are confronting for all and any witnesses and also emergency services,” Inspector Bayly said.

“But obviously, the bystander, quick thinking, providing first aid, and the emergency services, ambulance and police are focused on doing their job,” he said.

Fifteen months ago, 23-year-old local surfer Kai McKenzie lost his leg in a shark attack just north of Port Macquarie.

The young surfer has made a strong recovery after his life was saved by a man who used his dog’s lead as a tourniquet to stem the massive bleeding from the remains of his leg.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has closed Kylies Beach, as well as the surrounding beaches of North Haven Beach, Pilot Beach and Dunbogan Beach until further notice.

Kylies Beach is an unpatrolled stretch of Crowdy Bay, which is only monitored on weekends by volunteer lifesavers at the southern end of the beach.

‘Unfortunate incident’ at popular tourist spot

Entrance to Kylie Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park on Thursday. (ABC News: Marina Trajkovich)

NSW Surf Life Saving CEO Steve Pearce said sharks had been spotted at the coastal campground in the past.

“There have been sightings and interactions with sharks over the years at [Kylies Beach],” he said,

“It’s an isolated location, but it’s a highly visited spot due to its popularity.

“This is just a very unfortunate incident where two people have been attacked in a really idyllic location.”

Emergency services were called to Crowdy Bay, near Kylies Beach campground. (Supplied: NSW National Parks)

Mr Pearce said drone pilots with NSW Surf Life Saving were surveilling waters near the attack to help experts from the Department of Primary Industries locate the shark involved.

Police are speaking to witnesses, shark and marine experts as part of preparing a report for the coroner.

NSW Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer said in a statement: “This is a heartbreaking day for our community and my thoughts are with both families as they grapple with something no family should ever have to face.”

“I want to thank the people who stepped in straight away and the first responders who pushed through tough conditions to do everything they could,” Mr Dwyer said.

Yasmin Catley says the death will hit Crowdy Bay hard. (ABC News)

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she knew Crowdy Bay well and that the death would be “horrific for that coastal community”.

“All I can say is my heart breaks for their family, it’s so unexpected,” she said.

“To go to the beach and not go home is unimaginable.”

A history of shark attacks

The Australian Shark Incident Database, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, records incidents of serious shark attacks, and this is the fourth fatality recorded in 2025.

Six incidents have occurred in New South Wales waters this year, and 18 have been reported nationwide.

The DPIRD statement said mental health support would be offered to people affected by this event by the DPIRD Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, the Bite Club, Surfing NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW.

Investigations are underway to identify the shark involved, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.