Local sources report that American tourists suffered serious injuries following a shark attack while on a spear fishing trip in the Bahamas over the past weekend.
According to the Royal Bahamas police, the incident took place on Sunday, August 17, around 1 PM near Big Grand Cay, located on Abaco Island.
The victim, aged 63, was first treated at a nearby clinic before being transported to the US for additional medical care. There haven’t been further details released by the authorities.
While shark attacks in the Bahamas are uncommon, the nation has one of the highest rates of such incidents in the world relative to its population.
The International Shark Attack File, which tracks incidents worldwide, notes that the Bahamas has reported only 34 unprovoked attacks in the last four centuries, placing it ninth among monitored countries. This recent event follows a string of other attacks involving US tourists.
Earlier in the year, two Americans were believed to be injured in a shark-related incident while swimming in Bimini Bay, a popular tourist destination about 50 miles from Miami. In December 2023, another tragic incident occurred when 44-year-old Lauren Erikson Van Wort from Massachusetts was fatally bitten while paddleboarding near New Providence Island.
Additionally, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland was bitten on the foot during a shark experience at Paradise Island Resort, but fortunately he survived after being hospitalized.
The US State Department has previously issued warnings concerning shark-related risks in the Bahamas, issuing a Level 2 travel advisory in March. This advisory urged Americans to remain vigilant about safety, particularly regarding the potential for shark attacks.
