Unfortunately, the first fatal shark attack off 2022 has been reported.
Victor Estrella, 56, was diving Feb. 12 for scallops around 10 miles off Yavaros Hutabampo, Sonora, Mexico. He was using a surface-supplied air system that pumps air through hoses to the diver below.
Around 10 a.m. the dive tender noticed Estrella’s hoses were moving erratically.
The tender quickly began pulling on the hoses to bring Estrella to the surface and saw the shark. As he was pulling Estrella to the surface, the shark hit Estrella again and forced the dive tender to fight the estimated 13-foot (4m) white shark for the diver.
Once Estrella was onboard, the crew headed back to shore. Based on photos reported to be of Estrella, the shark took his right leg. He would have succumbed quickly to the loss of blood.
Initial reports indicated the shark attack occurred in the bay of Yavaros which is relatively shallow. However, multiple sources indicate the incident took place approximately 10 to 10 1/2 miles away from the port.
A similar incident occurred in 2018.
Nahum Verdugo Aguilera, 35, was diving Dec. 18, off Puerto Penasco, Sonora. He entered the water around 11 a.m. and was found floating a few moments later.
His two companions saw that his gear was damaged and went to pull him on board. As they attempted to pull him on the boat, they realized his left leg had been severed.
Once they had him aboard, they saw the shark had torn open his abdomen and ripped open his right thigh.
Based on photos of the injuries, it appears Aguilera was injured by a large tiger shark and he may have inadvertently jumped on the fish when he entered the water.
Both white sharks and tigers have been spotted in the area.
In 2012 an estimated 20-foot-long white shark was found dead in a fisherman’s net. The anglers dragged the shark to shore, which took them an hour in their 22-foot-long 75-horsepower boat.
The location of the Estrella attack has been marked on the 2022 Shark Attack Map.
