Shark attack off Arnhem Land leaves 17-year-old boy hospitalised with arm and leg injuries

A teenager has sustained “significant injuries” after he was attacked by a shark while spearfishing off the coast of Arnhem Land.

The 17-year-old was bitten by what authorities believe to be a reef shark off the coast of Nhulunbuy, around 970 kilometres east of Darwin, on Sunday.

The teenager had been spearfishing from a boat around 30 kilometres offshore when he was bitten on the arm and leg.