CHAMPION junior surfer Sam Morgan was rushed to hospital last night after being mauled by a shark off Ballina.
The popular local — a member of the Le-Ba Boardriders Club — was attacked while surfing off Lighthouse Beach about 6.15pm.
He was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital.
Following surgery, he remains in a stable condition, but in an induced coma.
Heavy rain on the state’s north coast had left creek and river mouths dirty, providing ideal conditions for sharks.
Le-Ba Boardriders members were in shock last night. “We are all thinking of you mate and praying that you will be OK,” their Facebook page said.
The former Xavier Catholic College student was taken to Lismore Base Hospital before being flown to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition after having his left thigh shredded in the ordeal.
A bull shark was being blamed last night for the attack on the 20-year-old, the same species involved in the fatal mauling of teenager Peter Edmonds in 2008.
Morgan was a regular at surfing events between the Gold Coast and Sydney, and competed in the World Surf League junior qualifying series event at Maroubra earlier this year.
Friend Steve Kearney said the “emotions were raw” after finding out his mate had been attacked.

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