A suspected shark attack on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula has left two teens in hospital and shut a beach.
Emergency services were called to Ocean Grove, southeast of Geelong, just after 7pm on Monday. Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club said the teens were injured by a "marine animal" as VicEmergency issued a warning after a shark sighting close to shore.
Off-duty lifesavers and bystanders came to the aid of the Ocean Grove girl and Curlewis boy, both aged 15, before they were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital.
Salvation Army officers Peter and Diane Hobbs were out for a leisurely paddle with their family when the young pair were attacked in the water nearby.
"We could see them splashing but didn't know what was happening," Mr Hobbs wrote on social media.
"We didn't see the shark, just the splash, but we heard the cries and our family mobilised."
The girl suffered lower-body injuries and the boy minor injuries, Ambulance Victoria said. Both are in a stable condition. Ms Hobbs said the girl had a large bite mark on her lower leg and she helped stem the bleeding.
"She was actually losing quite a bit of blood," Ms Hobbs told ABC Radio Melbourne.
"She saw the shark and knocked it away. They were both amazing - brave. They could not have done anything more than what they did."
Ocean Grove main beach remains closed on Tuesday morning.
"Lifesavers have erected a beach closure sign, and we ask people to avoid the area until further notice," Life Saving Victoria said in a statement.
"It's important to remember sharks are a normal part of the marine environment and attacks like tonight's are rare, so you should be alert but not alarmed."
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