A surfer has been bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing on the state’s far north coast this morning.

The 43-year-old man was pulled off his board at Shelly Beach near Ballina, just after 7am.

He used his surfboard to fight off the shark but was bitten on the calf.

He made it to shore and received first aid from friends before taking himself to hospital.

Ballina Mayor David Wright says the animal was about five-foot long and the surfer’s wound is being treated.

“He came into shore, wrapped his leg up and went to Ballina Hospital,” he says.

“He’s now been transferred to Lismore Hospital, he’s got an eight inch cut on his calf.”

All beaches in the Ballina Shire have now been closed.

This morning’s attack comes barely 24 hours after a fatal mauling in far north Queensland.

33-year-old Daniel Christidis died from his injuries after being attacked at Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays.

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