Sydney, June 8 (TIWN) A 10 foot-long great white shark on Sunday killed a surfer in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state, police said.

The shark bit the leg of the surfer, aged between 50 and 60, off Kingscliff, 800km (500 miles) north of Sydney.

Several "heroic" boarders tried to help the man by fighting off the shark but although he was brought to the beach, he died there of his wounds.

This is the third fatal shark attack in Australian waters this year.

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The Sydney Morning Herald said that although police gunmen were deployed to find the shark, they were unable to kill it and it left the area after several hours.

Police are licensed to kill sharks if they are considered a threat to human life but no shots were fired in this case.

The attack took place off Salt Beach at about 10:00 local time on Sunday (midnight GMT Saturday). The shark bit the man's thigh, then circled those who came to his aid, reportedly ramming one of their boards.