A woman is in a stable condition after she was attacked by a shark while swimming at South Australia’s Beachport this morning.

The 64-year-old woman was doing a morning swim with a local community group when she was attacked on the leg by a shark.

Emergency services were called just before 8am to a location near Beachport Jetty.

“She was helped out of the water and given first aid by bystanders until paramedics arrived,” SA Police said.

The woman was then rushed to Mount Gambier Hospital in a serious condition but has since stabilised.

It is understood the victim was swimming with a dozen other people when the attack occurred.

Community members, fishermen and SES support units are currently conducting searches in the bay for the shark.

The type of shark is yet to be identified.

SES have provided drones to search for the animal with a spokesperson saying once flight plans were approved, the drones would be sent up.

The small coastal community of Beachport is about 380 kilometres from Adelaide, and about 85 kilometres north-west of Mount Gambier.

Police have asked people to avoid the area if possible.

Photo: Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) by Bernard DUPONT available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.