Guy Fluke said his 12 years swimming at Shelley Beach has come to an end after being bitten at about 9.45am, while wading through thick seaweed.

“I was in a lot of pain for a few hours,” Mr Fluke said.

“It was definitely a snake bite; the hospital confirmed it. I have the two classic puncture wounds on my foot.”

Mr Fluke said he couldn’t tell if it was a sea-snake or another type of snake, washed down the river into the ocean.

“They say with sea snakes the pain doesn’t happen straight away, whereas I had strong pain from the go,” he said.

“I didn’t get much venom in me; not enough to make me sick, but I had to stay in the hospital for observation.”

Mr Fluke said he was in good health but had concerns for others.

“If it was a toddler or a frail person – it could have been a problem.”