A Central Coast man swimming at samurai beach at around 7.45am on Saturday is recovering in hospital after being bitten on the arm by a shark.
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The man, believed to be in his early 50s, suffered both arm and torso wounds.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service said it was deployed to One Mile beach about 8am to assist a man who had reportedly been attacked by a shark.
A spokesman said the man, 50, sustained only minor injuries.
“He is believed to have been bitten on the bicep,” the spokesman said.
Eyewitness Garry Sharp, from Boat Harbour, watched the attack unfold.
"I had just pulled up at samurai to check the surf. I had noticed the lone swimmer in the water and the next thing the shark appeared.
"A mate and I began calling out to the swimmer but he obviously couldn't hear us. The man dived under the water and as he came up I noticed the splashing of water and told my mate 'he's been hit by that shark'
"We raced over to meet him at the water’s edge and helped him onto the beach.
"His arm was pretty mangled so I wrapped it up with some towels while my mate drove his car out to signal the ambulance driver. There was plenty of blood.
"The man remained conscious and while he appeared ok he was a bit of a mess, possibly shock."
Mr Sharp said another bystander appeared with a first aid kit and he was able to replace the towels with bandages.
Mr Sharp drove the victim off the beach in his vehicle to a waiting ambulance.
One Mile beach spent much of the week closed after a sperm whale carcass washed ashore, with Port Stephens Council attributing increased shark presence to the deceased animal.
National Parks and Wildlife had by Friday cut the whale carcass into more manageable pieces to remove it from the sand.
