Shark Attacks Teen Boy. Bystanders Use a Surfboard to Save His Life

A shark attack in Australia left a teenage boy with serious injuries — and things could have been worse if bystanders didn’t act quickly.

The 16-year-old boy was swimming at Cabarita Beach in New South Wales (NSW) when the shark attacked him in the afternoon of Sunday, June 29, according to reports from 9News, News.com.au and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The attack left the teen with serious injuries, including bites on his right upper arm, right leg and wrist, per 9News and News.com.au. NSW Surf Lifesaving CEO Stephen Pearce echoed these reports to the ABC, stating, “I’m told there were traumatic injuries to the right arm and right leg.”

Emergency services were alerted to the attack just before 4 p.m. local time, according to the outlets. But before paramedics could respond to the scene, bystanders at the beach stepped in to help the injured teen, an NSW Ambulance spokesperson told the ABC.

“I’m not sure whether he was with any other friends at the time of the incident, but by the time our lifeguards got there he had already had a tourniquet applied to those impacted limbs,” Pearce told the ABC.

Related Stories

Girl, 12, Attacked by Shark Off the Coast of South Carolina — Marking the Second Such Attack in the U.S. in Less Than 1 Week

2 Shark Attacks Reported in Waters off the Same South Carolina Island in 1 Week: Reports

An off-duty paramedic was among the beachgoers who helped the teen, according to 9News.

Others on the beach helped to carry the teen from the scene using a surfboard as a makeshift stretcher, according to footage of the aftermath shared by Instagram user @nicka35. 

The teen was subsequently airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital via helicopter in a serious but stable condition, according to 9News.

NSW Ambulance did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Following the attack, a jet ski cleared other surfers from the water while a helicopter patrolled for shark activity, according to the ABC, and officials do not have any details about the shark.

Pearce told the outlet that around this time of year, there is typically an increase of shark activity in the area.

“Cabarita Beach is a beautiful, picturesque beach,” the NSW Surf Lifesaving CEO said, “and unfortunately I think it might be a case of ‘wrong time, wrong place’ at this stage for the young fella.”