A 63-year-old American was attacked and seriously injured by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas on Sunday. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. near Big Grand Cay on Abaco Island. The man was first taken to a local clinic before being airlifted by rescue helicopter to a hospital in Florida for further treatment.
Location and background of the attack
Abaco is located about 320 kilometers east of Miami and is one of the Bahamian islands particularly popular with divers and vacationers. According to the Bahamian police, the attack occurred during a spearfishing trip – an activity that can increase the risk of encounters with sharks, as blood and movements can trigger prey responses.
Rare but serious incident
Although the Bahamas rank among the countries with the highest number of recorded shark attacks worldwide, such incidents remain very rare overall. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a total of 34 unprovoked attacks have been documented in Bahamian waters since 1580 – statistically, that means about one attack every 13 years. The likelihood of becoming the victim of a shark attack is considered extremely low here as well.
Worldwide, only 47 unprovoked shark attacks were recorded in 2024, the lowest number in almost three decades. Four of these cases were fatal. Scientists even described it as an “exceptionally quiet year” regarding shark attacks. By comparison, 2023 saw about one third more incidents.
Assessment in a global comparison
Most shark attacks worldwide occur off the coasts of the USA, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil. Florida alone accounted for half of all U.S. incidents last year. Australia reported nine attacks, while ten other countries each documented only a single case. Against this backdrop, the incident in the Bahamas remains a rare, albeit tragic, event.
