The search for a 62-year-old woman believed to have been killed by a shark off the NSW south coast will resume at first light today.
Bad weather forced police and surf lifesavers to end the hunt for Christine Armstrong who went missing on Thursday morning while swimming with her regular group, including husband Rob, at Tathra Beach, about 100 kilometres north of the Victorian border.
Emergency services said she was killed swimming the 250m between Tathra Wharf and Tathra Beach about 8.20am, with witnesses claiming they saw a 3-4 metre shark close to the surface.
Mrs Armstrong's family released a statement, saying "she will be sadly missed by all who loved her, especially by Rob, her husband of 44 years.
"She has been swimming at Tathra Beach for 14 years and was an experienced and committed member of the surf club," it said.
The beach - a popular tourist spot - was closed after the attack.
During the past century 47 people have been killed by sharks in NSW waters, according to the Shark Attack File.
Bermagui Blue Balls swimming club president Gary Pearse often swims and dives in the area and said there is a "resident" great white.
"I haven't seen it myself but I know people who have and there's also a lot of bronze whalers," he told News Corp Australia.
