A 63-year-old American was attacked and seriously injured by a shark on Sunday whilst spearfishing in the Bahamas. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. The man was initially 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 around 320 kilometres east of Miami and is one of the Bahamas islands that is particularly popular with divers and holidaymakers. According to the Bahamas police, the attack occurred during a spearfishing trip – an activity that can increase the risk of encounters with sharks, as blood and movement can trigger predatory instincts.
Rare but serious incident
Although the Bahamas is internationally one of the countries with the highest number of recorded shark attacks, such incidents are still very rare overall. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a total of 34 unprovoked attacks have been documented in the waters of the Bahamas since the year 1580 – statistically, that is roughly one attack every 13 years. The probability of becoming a victim of a shark attack is still considered extremely low here.
Worldwide, only 47 unprovoked shark attacks were recorded in 2024, the lowest number in nearly three decades. Four of these cases were fatal. Scientists even described it as an “exceptionally quiet year” in terms of shark attacks. In comparison, there were a third more incidents in 2023.
Classification 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 US incidents last year. Australia reported nine attacks, whilst ten other countries each documented only a single case. Against this backdrop, the incident in the Bahamas remains a rare, albeit tragic, event.
