U.S. tourist attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas
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U.S. tourist attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas
A 63-year-old American tourist was severely injured after he was attacked by a shark. The attack happened near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. The Bahamas has one of the world’s highest rates of shark attacks, although they are still extremely rare. There have been just 34 confirmed attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File.
Why and how often do shark attacks happen?
Why and how often do shark attacks happen?
A 63-year-old American tourist was severely injured after he was attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas on Sunday, local authorities said.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement shared on Facebook that the attack happened shortly after 1 p.m. near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. Officials said the man sustained severe injuries and was taken to a local clinic for medical assistance. He was then airlifted to the U.S. for additional treatment.
Additional information was not immediately available.
The Bahamas has one of the world’s highest rates of shark attacks, although data shows they are still extremely rare.
There have been just 34 confirmed attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File, a database that tracks shark encounters with humans worldwide. That tally is the ninth highest of all countries tracked.
Two American tourists were injured after an apparent shark attack while swimming in the popular Bahamian resort area Bimini Bay in February. Bimini Bay is part of the westernmost island in the Bahamas, some 50 miles from Miami.
In December 2023, a woman from Boston died in a shark attack while paddleboarding with a family member, police said at the time. Shortly after, in January 2024, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland sustained a bite while participating in a shark tank expedition at another Bahamian resort. He was hospitalized for a bite on the leg, according to police.
Elsewhere, on Friday, two Carnival Cruise passengers from the U.S. drowned in separate incidents at Carnival Cruise Line’s new Bahamas resort, authorities said.
US tourist attacked by shark, severely injured while spearfishing in the Bahamas
A 63-year-old American tourist was severely injured after a shark attacked him while he was spearfishing in the Bahamas. The frightening encounter occurred just after 1 p.m. Sunday near Big Grand Cay, a remote stretch of the Abaco Islands. The man was yanked from the water with severe injuries and rushed to a local clinic before being airlifted to the United States for additional treatment. The Bahamas has earned a reputation as a shark hotspot thanks to a few high profile cases.
The frightening encounter occurred just after 1 p.m. Sunday near Big Grand Cay, a remote stretch of the Abaco Islands, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.
A 63-year-old American tourist was severely injured after a shark attacked him while spearfishing in the Bahamas. pics721 – stock.adobe.com
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The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was yanked from the water with severe injuries and rushed to a local clinic before being airlifted to the US for additional treatment, police said.
The victim’s current condition is unknown.
Spearfishing is a popular recreational sport in the Bahamas involving impaling a fish’s body with a long, sharp tool, such as a spear, gig, or harpoon.
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The Bahamas has earned a reputation as a shark hotspot thanks to a few high profile cases, though attacks still remain rare.
There have been 34 confirmed shark attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File, which ranks it ninth highest in terms of shark encounters among all countries tracked by the database.
The man was yanked from the water with severe injuries and rushed to a local clinic before being airlifted to the United States for additional treatment. Michael – stock.adobe.com
An American tourist thought she was “going to die” after a shark attacked her and her friend while swimming at the vacation hotspot in February.
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In late March, a spate of shark attacks and crime across the Bahamas prompted US officials to reissue a travel advisory against the Caribbean nation right in the thick of the spring break travel rush.
The US State Department issued a Level 2 travel warning against the Bahamas, cautioning American travelers to “exercise increased caution” when visiting.
“Stay alert for sharks. Shark attacks have led to serious injuries and death,” the State Department cautioned at the time.
The Largest Great White Ever Recorded is Migrating to This Popular Vacation Destination
A massive great white shark resurfaced on June 7th off the coast of North Carolina near a popular tourist destination. At 13.8 feet long and with an estimated weight of 1,653 lbs, Contender dwarfs even rival great white sharks. Researchers believe this sizeable shark disappeared off the map to undergo a critical feeding period. This gives white sharks a chance to bulk up before they make potentially 1,000-mile journeys north. OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that conducts impressive research regarding sharks in the oceans, tracks sharks like Contender through the use of SPOT trackers. Data gleaned from tracking allows researchers to not only keep an eye on sharks, it also allows them to protect other marine animals. In 2024, there were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the United States, with 5 in North Carolina and 1 in South Carolina. The more data acquired, the better chance people have of avoiding a dangerous, even deadly, shark incident. The post The Largest Great White Shark Ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean is set to be released on July 1st.
It’s summertime, and both people and sharks are headed to North Carolina to soak up the tropical sun. One great white shark in particular, however, towers over the others en route to the state’s sunny shores.
His name is Contender. At nearly 14 feet long, he is the largest mature male great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. The OCEARCH Shark Tracker first tagged this behemoth in January, about 45 miles off the coast shared by Florida and Georgia. Researchers kept eyes on Contender until mid-May, when his signal went quiet for several weeks.
Contender Resurfaces
A massive great white shark resurfaced on June 7th off the coast of North Carolina near a popular tourist destination. ©Alessandro De Maddalena/Shutterstock.com
Two days ago, on June 7th, Contender showed his face. According to the OCEARCH Shark Tracker, Contender, who weighs an estimated 1,653 lbs, resurfaced near North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound. Considering this is one of the most popular destinations for summer tourists on the East Coast, people are rightfully concerned.
Researchers believe this sizeable shark disappeared off the map to undergo a critical feeding period. This period would help him build up his energy reserves for a long-distance journey north. According to OCEARCH’s chief scientist and veterinarian, Harley Newton, speaking to Men’s Journal, it’s a common pattern for sharks during this time of year. “White sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration (May 16 to June 30), moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada,” Newton told the outlet.
Newton added that white sharks often linger around the Outer Banks, between Virginia and North Carolina, in the early summer months. He believes that there may be plentiful food resources in the area. This gives white sharks a chance to bulk up before they make potentially 1,000-mile journeys north.
OCEARCH Observations
OCEARCH tracks various sharks in the ocean by collecting previously unattainable data. ©yeshaya dinerstein/Shutterstock.com
Thanks to innovations in technology, sharks like Contender can now be tracked consistently. This not only keeps beachgoers safe, but it also helps scientists understand shark movement and behavior. Leading this charge is OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that conducts impressive research regarding sharks in the oceans. By collecting previously unattainable data, OCEARCH aims to instigate “the ocean’s return to balance and abundance.”
The organization manages to track sharks like Contender through the use of SPOT trackers, “highly versatile location trackers built for rugged marine applications.” These trackers monitor shark movement and activity. Data gleaned from tracking allows researchers at OCEARCH to not only keep an eye on sharks, it also allows them to protect other marine animals. A glance at the organization’s interactive tracking map reveals the breadth of data available.
Considering that Contender is the largest mature male great white shark recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, OCEARCH closely monitors his activity as he travels up and down the east coast. At 13.8 feet long and with an estimated weight of 1,653 pounds, Contender dwarfs even rival great white sharks. According to the OCEARCH website, he’s named after Contender Boats, a longtime OCEARCH partner whose fleet of sport fishing and leisure boats helps the non-profit spot, tag, and track various sharks.
Sharks in the Water
There were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the United States in 2024. ©Scupix/Shutterstock.com
The newfound ability to track sharks gives people a better chance of avoiding them. The more sharks OCEARCH tracks, the better we can understand and anticipate their movements. OCEARCH seeks to restore balance to the ocean, but its data could also help prevent future shark attacks in regions where they are common.
While shark attacks in the U.S. reportedly dropped last year, these incidents still affect beachgoers and swimmers. In 2024, a relatively quiet year for shark incidents, there were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the United States. 14 of those attacks occurred in Florida, with 5 occurring in North Carolina and 1 in South Carolina.
Considering this is the area where Contender was last spotted, OCEARCH is doing a public service by collecting shark movement data. The more data acquired, the better chance people have of avoiding a dangerous, even deadly, shark incident.
The post The Largest Great White Ever Recorded is Migrating to This Popular Vacation Destination appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Man Injured in Shark Attack While Spearfishing Off Spanish Cay
Police on Abaco are investigating a reported shark attack that took place Tuesday, in waters off Spanish Cay. An adult male was spearfishing when a shark bit him. A family member helped him onto their vessel, and he was taken
Preliminary reports indicate that shortly after 10:00 a.m., the man was spearfishing when a shark bit him. A family member helped him onto their vessel, and he was taken to Spanish Cay for initial medical treatment before being transported to the local clinic in Cooper’s Town.
He is expected to be airlifted to New Providence for further medical care.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
U.S. tourist attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas
The 63-year-old man was airlifted to the U.S. for treatment. He was spearfishing near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. The Bahamas has one of the world’s highest rates of shark attacks. There have been just 34 confirmed attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File. Meanwhile, two Carnival Cruise passengers drowned in separate incidents on Friday.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement shared on Facebook that the attack happened shortly after 1 p.m. near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. Officials said the man sustained severe injuries and was taken to a local clinic for medical assistance. He was then airlifted to the U.S. for additional treatment.
Additional information was not immediately available.
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The Bahamas has one of the world’s highest rates of shark attacks, although data shows they are still extremely rare.
There have been just 34 confirmed attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File, a database that tracks shark encounters with humans worldwide. That tally is the ninth highest of all countries tracked.
Two American tourists were injured after an apparent shark attack while swimming in the popular Bahamian resort area Bimini Bay in February. Bimini Bay is part of the westernmost island in the Bahamas, some 50 miles from Miami.
In December 2023, a woman from Boston died in a shark attack while paddleboarding with a family member, police said at the time. Shortly after, in January 2024, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland sustained a bite while participating in a shark tank expedition at another Bahamian resort. He was hospitalized for a bite on the leg, according to police.
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Elsewhere, on Friday, two Carnival Cruise passengers from the U.S. drowned in separate incidents at Carnival Cruise Line’s new Bahamas resort, authorities said.
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