A U.S. tourist was attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas.
The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 17, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Police went to the scene near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco. The statement says that a 63-year-old man was spearfishing when a shark attacked him.
He suffered “severe injuries,” police reported.
The man, whose name has not been released, was first taken to a local clinic for treatment. He was later airlifted to the U.S. for further care. There is no update yet on his current condition.
U.S. Tourist Attacked by Shark While Spearfishing in the Bahamas
The Bahamas.
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Spearfishing is a popular activity in the Bahamas. The sport uses a sharp tool, like a harpoon, spear, or gig, to catch fish.
Even though shark attacks get a lot of attention in the summer, they are very rare. The Florida Museum says the chance of being attacked by a shark is about one in 11.5 million.
According to Tracking Sharks, which tracks shark attacks worldwide, there have been 38 shark bites this year as of July. Eight were fatal. Twelve happened in the U.S., but none of those were fatal.
In March, after a series of shark attacks and other incidents in the Bahamas, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for the country. The Level 2 warning told Americans to “stay alert for sharks” while visiting.
“Shark attacks have led to serious injuries and death,” department officials said.
