Canberra: A man was killed on Tuesday in a shark attack in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state's far north coast.

The incident occurred in NSW's Byron Bay, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

According to authorities, a doctor performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man, who had a "very serious bite" on his leg, but he could not be saved.

He was pronounced dead on the beach. Police said the man was in his 50s.

Bystanders spotted the man in the water and dragged him to the beach.

It is understood that part of the man's leg was missing and was found floating in the surf.

A shark, estimated to be two metres long, was spotted near the site where the man was killed.