A veteran surf boat crew from Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) was training about 400m off shore near Port Stephens, when the timber sweep oar used to steer the boat was suddenly wrenched from the sweep’s hands. A juvenile shark was discovered attached to the other end.

The shark took a bite out of the sweep oar before swimming away.

Unfazed but slightly bemused by the event, the crew continued training, returning to shore a short time later where they removed several of the shark’s teeth from the oar, which have now become souvenirs of their encounter.

Sighting marine creatures such as whales, dolphins and sharks is a fairly common occurrence for surf boats crews, who often train a distance out to sea.

“We occasionally see them when we’re out in the boat, but it was a shock to have one grab hold of the oar,” the sweep, Greg Ross said.

“He let go as soon as he realised it wasn’t edible.”

The club has only been in possession of the surf boat for a month, purchasing it second hand from Nobby’s SLSC in Newcastle.

Regular patrols in the rubber duck and jet ski were conducted throughout the weekend, to ensure there were no other sharks close to swimming areas.

Surf Life Saving NSW released a statement saying that at no stage were swimmers in the patrolled areas at risk.

Surf Life Saving NSW manager of lifesaving, Dean Storey has reminded beachgoers that the risk of shark attacks is extremely minimal and that swimmers are at much greater risk of being caught in rip currents.

“If you are concerned about sharks, the safest place to swim is between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches,” Mr Storey said.