Local resident Pam Cook was attacked by a shark at Beachport just after dawn yesterday (Monday).

Police were called to the Beachport jetty at 7.45am after reports that Ms Cook had been bitten on the leg and foot by a shark.

Ms Cook was helped out of the water and given first aid by jetty maintenance workers until SA Ambulance Service paramedics arrived.

She was then taken by ambulance under police escort to the Mount Gambier Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The 64-year-old victim is a married mother-of-two adult sons, works at the Beachport Hotel and is an active community member.

She is a member of the Sea Urchins which is an informal swimming group of 12 local women which meets at 7.30am each morning at the foreshore war memorial rotunda.

A number of boats patrolled the waters of Rivoli Bay later yesterday morning in a bid to locate the shark.

The State Emergency Service also provided a drone to assist with the search.

Sharks are occasionally seen in Rivoli Bay with published rumours of a four-metre White Pointer sighted in 2013 by one of the region’s professional fisherman.

The area where the attack occurred is popular with swimmers and hosts the summertime Vacswim swimming lessons.

The annual Blessing of the Fleet had been held there the previous afternoon and involved swimmers jumping from the jetty to retrieve a blessed crucifix.