Three Far North Coast beaches in NSW have been closed after a shark had a close encounter with a surfer.

The surfer was reportedly knocked off their board at Flat Rock in East Ballina, about 30 minutes south of Byron Bay, on Thursday morning, Surf Life Saving NSW said.

The surfer is believed to have made it back to shore safely and was not injured.

NSW Police said no injuries were reported and no police action was required.

Flat Rock, Sharpes and Lennox Head beaches will remain closed for the rest of the day.

The incident comes after 12-year-old boy Nico Antic died from injuries sustained in a bull shark attack at Vaucluse on January 18.

Shark attack victim Nico Antic, 12.Shark attack victim Nico Antic, 12. Credit: Easts Rugby

 

His parents, Lorena and Juan, announced his death on Saturday, almost a week after the attack, remembering him as “a happy, friendly, and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit”.

His school, Rose Bay Secondary College, has organised a community paddle-out on Sunday morning at North Bondi.

“Nico was a happy, vibrant and social young person — widely known and deeply loved by a large network of friends,” the school said in a statement posted to social media.

“He brought warmth, energy and kindness to those around him and will be remembered for the joy he shared so freely.”

The school also highlighted his sporting achievements, noting he held its 12 years 800m athletics record.

“Nico will be deeply missed,” the statement said.

Nico has been remembered by his rugby club mates as someone who would "run through a wall for his team" following his death due to a shark attack. Nico has been remembered by his rugby club mates as someone who would “run through a wall for his team” following his death due to a shark attack. Credit: Easts Rugby

 

Nico was one of four people attacked by sharks off NSW beaches in the span of two days and his death was the first fatal shark attack inside Sydney Harbour in more than 60 years.

Just hours after Nico was attacked, an 11-year-old narrowly escaped injury when a shark took a large chunk out of his surfboard at Dee Why Point on Monday morning.

Later the same day, 27-year-old surfer Andre de Ruyter, was dragged underwater during a shark attack at Manly Beach just after 6pm.

He was pulled unconscious from the water by fellow surfers and rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.

Less than 24 hours later, 39-year-old surfer, Paul Zvirzdinas, was reportedly bitten by an “animal” while in the water at Point Plomer Beach, south of Crescent Head, on Tuesday.

He managed to drive himself to Kempsey District Hospital and has since been discharged.

After the spate of incidents, an extra $4.2 million was added to NSW beach safety programs, including shark tagging and monitoring and the installation of listening stations in the harbour.

Drone patrols will be extended to seven days a week through to the end of the April school holidays, covering 30 more beaches in Sydney and along the NSW coast.