Sept. 14 (UPI) — A man was in serious but stable condition Monday after he was attacked by a shark while he was surfing off a beach in Western Australia.

The man, identified as firefighter Mel Ismail, was surfing about 9:45 a.m. Monday near Glenfield Beach near Geraldton, north of Perth, when the shark attacked him, ABC News in Australia reported.

Ismail, who is in his 50s, was rushed to Geraldton Hospital by ambulance. Officials removed a damaged surfboard from the scene, ABC News said, and authorities were testing it to determine the type of shark involved.

The beach was closed, and residents were asked to avoid the area. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said in an alert that it was working with local officials to respond to the situation. It also said no shark activity had been reported to city authorities in the 30 days prior to Monday’s incident.

Kirrilee Warr, a member of Parliament from Geraldton and opposition fisheries spokesperson, said she understood Ismail is a well-known local surfer.

Warr called for the state government to review its shark mitigation efforts, saying the community needs to be confident that those efforts are well-funded and effective.

“We know millions of dollars are being poured into this mitigation strategy, but it simply is not good enough to stand there and say, ‘we have this strategy,’ but not know if it works,” Warr said.

Jackie Jarvis, fisheries minister, defended those efforts.

“Western Australia has one of the most comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategies in the country, using a range of measures to help keep people as safe as possible while they enjoy our coastline,” Jarvis said.

There have been two fatal shark attacks in 2026 in Western Australia, ABC News said. A Perth man was killed while spearfishing off Rottnest Island in May, and a diver was killed near Michaelmas Island in June.