Girl, 10, bitten by shark in NSW

A 10-year-old girl is in a serious condition after being bitten by a shark in northern NSW this afternoon.

NSW Ambulance said the girl was bitten on the hand while surfing with her younger brother at a beach in Lennox Head, south of Byron Bay, about 5pm.

"It is quite a significant injury," an ambulance spokeswoman told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

There are fears the girl may lose her hand.

Local man Ben Molloy wrapped her hand with a flannelette shirt after she emerged from the water screaming.

"(It was) a pretty gnarly cut – bad, but not too bad," he told the Northern Star.

"The other kids paddled in pretty quick smart."

Police said the girl was definitely bitten by a fish, but said it was not certain it was a shark attack.