An as yet unidentified surfer died in a shark attack this afternoon at one of the most famous and crowded beaches on the planet, Snapper Rocks.

The man, who is in his 50s, was bitten on the leg, Stab reported, causing him to bleed to death on the sand despite several surfers trying to help and revive him.

The waves were fun at around two feet and the victim was surfing more open, in the Greenmount section, relatively far from the rather heavy crowd characteristic of Snappers.

According to Stab, the wave is one of several that have net protection and, as it is located near the Tweed River, it is considered safe as far as shark attacks are concerned.

On the Gold Coast, the last attack took place in 2012. Meanwhile, in the area, there have been three fatal attacks within about 50 kilometres since June.

“No one can believe it. No one believes Snappers is a shark resort. Whales have been close recently but I’m not sure that has anything to do with the attack,” a source told Stab.