A spearfisherman has died following a shark attack in New Caledonia. The unidentified man was fishing 500 meters (546 yards) near the Tuany island May 28, near the town of Poum in the French territory.
Around 11 a.m. the local fisherman, who was familiar with the area, was attacked by a shark. According to a report from law enforcement, a member of the man’s family, while waiting on the boat, spotted blood in the water and jumped into the water to rescue him. The family member was able to pull the man into the boat and carried him to shore. Unfortunately, the man’s injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead on scene.
The death of the fisherman is the second fatal shark attack in New Caledonia this year.
Chris Davis, 59, was swimming in a cordoned swimming area Feb. 19 when he was attacked. The Australian father of three was swimming near a platform around 4 p.m. when a tiger shark struck. Web cameras filmed the attack as Davis struggled about 150 meters (164 yards) off the beach.
Rescuers collected him by using jet skis and hurriedly returned him to the beach. A bystander filmed Davis being pulled off the ski and as CPR was administered for 40 minutes. Unfortunately, Davis’ femoral artery had been severed and he succumbed to his injuries.
Anglers captured and killed a 13-foot (4m) tiger shark they believed was responsible for the attack. The Noumea City Council has banned swimming at the capital’s tropical beaches until November 30, 2023.
This is the third shark attack with injury in New Caledonia this year.
A 49-year-old woman was seriously injured Jan. 29 off the same beach as Davis when she was attacked by a shark. The unidentified woman was a few hundred meters off the beach when a shark attacked her around 10:30 a.m.
A paddleboarder heard her screams and carried her to shore. A bull shark was spotted swimming in the area after the attack.
The last fatal shark attack occurred in New Caledonia in April 2021, when Dr. Jean-Christoph Viver was killed.
All locations have been marked on the 2023 Shark Attack Map.
