Surfer mauled by shark in Australia

A man is in a serious condition after being bitten by a shark. Stock photo of a shark/ Thinkstock

A man is in a serious condition after being bitten by a shark in northern NSW, Australia during an early morning surf.

Emergency services were called to Main Beach at Evans Head at around 6.15am on Friday, to find the man with wounds to his legs and hands.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was treated on the beach, and is being transported to Lismore Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A police officer is driving the ambulance while paramedics work on the man en route to the hospital, police said.

The beach, south of Ballina, which is not patrolled in winter will remain closed, a Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman told AAP.

Earlier this month a bodyboarder was mauled by a shark at Ballina's Lighthouse Beach, suffering serious injuries to his lower legs.

In February, a large great white shark tore the legs off 41-year-old surfer, Tadashi Nakaharaa, in a fatal attack at the neighbouring Shelly Beach.