Updated April 06, 2020 22:54:35

A man has suffered extensive injuries in a shark attack off the coast of central Queensland.

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said a rescue helicopter with a critical care flight paramedic on board was sent to North West Island, about 75 kilometres off the coast of Emu Park just after 5:00pm on Monday.

A QAS spokesperson said a man in his 20s was injured in the attack.

The man had been on a boat moored off the island.

After landing on the island, a doctor and a paramedic travelled to the scene at 8:30pm via another vessel.

North West Island is the largest coral cay in a string of islands and part of the Capricorn Cays National Park.

A camping ground is the only permanent facility on the island and visitors are required to take their own water.

Topics: emergency-incidents, shark, emu-park-4710, rockhampton-4700, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted April 06, 2020 21:08:22