Australia's shark attack victim drives himself to hospital

All beaches in Australia's Ballina New South Wales (NSW) north coast have been closed after a man was bitten by a shark while surfing, making the encounter the sixth attack in 21 months in the area.

The 25-year-old man was bitten at Sharpes Beach in Ballina on Wednesday morning while surfing with his two friends.

It was reported that the man had felt a bump on his surf board before falling into the water and being mauled by the shark.

The Australian Associated Press reports that the victim then drove himself to the hospital.

The NSW police in a statement said the man suffered a small wound to his lower right leg.

All beaches in the Ballina Shire have been closed for 24 hours and authorities are trying to determine what type of shark was involved in the attack.

There have been six shark attacks at Ballina Shire beaches since January last year, including one that killed Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara.

The attack comes less than two weeks after another Australian teenager, 17-year-old Cooper Allan, was mauled by a great white at Ballina's Lighthouse Beach.

Following Cooper's attack, the NSW state government announced up to 100 "smart" drum lines would be placed along the coastline with the focus on the northern beaches in a bid to keep swimmers safe from such attacks. Endit