A man has been mauled by a shark while swimming at One Mile Beach at Port Stephens, near Newcastle.
The 50-year-old was bitten on the bicep around 8am today, the Daily Mail reported.
He was treated by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter at the scene and was rushed to hospital shortly after.
The attack happened just hours after a rotting whale carcass was removed from the shoreline.
The beach had been closed for most of the week because of the whale - which washed ashore on Tuesday.