A Russian man was shot dead by a tiger shark while swimming on a beach Thursday, leaving witnesses in shock. The incident, captured in a disturbing video that appeared online, showed the moment the 23-year-old Russian citizen was attacked after a shark appeared underwater and grabbed him.
And the Russian news agency TASS confirmed that the dead man was Russian, but he lives in Egypt full time and was not a tourist, according to what was reported by Reuters.
The horrific attack was witnessed by the man’s father, who was on the spot. The father recalls the incident: “We went to the beach to relax.” “My son was attacked by a shark, it all happened in seconds,” The Independent quoted him as saying.
The distressing video captured the victim’s desperate cry for help, as witnesses watched the tragic event unfold before their eyes.
Trigger warning: Viewer discretion is advised: The following video contains footage of a shark attack. Please be aware that this content may be disturbing or upsetting to some individuals.
The father expressed his helplessness over the situation as he said nothing could be done at the moment. He said: “What kind of help can you give? … He was dragged under the water.”
The victim’s father also blamed the accident on “evil” fate, noting that the beach was considered safe for swimming. “….A ridiculous coincidence… There are ships and yachts around. It never happened there… That would just be some kind of evil fate.”
The accident occurred in one of the resorts of the Red Sea in Egypt, near the city of Hurghada. The attack prompted the authorities to close 74 kilometers of coastline until Sunday.
Reportedly, the country’s environment ministry has caught the shark and is examining it to determine the reasons for the attack.
In 2022, a total of 57 confirmed unprovoked cases of shark attacks occurred globally, with the United States reporting the highest number at 41, followed by Australia, according to a report from the Florida Museum of Natural History. Of these, five people were killed in the attacks.
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