Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents News Articles on Shark Bites

A young Ukrainian tourist lost an arm and an Egyptian tour guide a leg in a rare shark attack over the weekend off Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, officials said Tuesday. The attack took place Sunday when two tourists - a mother and her son - and their tour guide were snorkeling in Ras Mohammed national park, the Environment Ministry said in a statement.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital and an initial investigation showed that the attack involved a 2-meter long Oceanic Whitetip shark, the ministry said. A video on social media taken by a safari submarine in the area showed a female shark behaving "hostile towards humans," which is likely the fish that attacked the group, the ministry added.

The ministry did not release details of the injuries, but a statement by Ukraine's State Agency for the Development of Tourism said Monday the 12-year-old boy was in intensive care, and that surgery had failed to save his arm.
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An Egyptian health official said that the family's guide had lost a leg, and the mother suffered light injuries. The health official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Officials have closed the area of Ras Mohammed National Park where the attack took place.

Shark attacks have been rare in the Red Sea coastal region of Egypt in recent years. But in 2010, a spate of shark attacks killed one European tourist and maimed several others off Sharm el-Sheikh.

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Shark attacks Ukrainians in Egypt: Victims bought a tour from third parties, - tour operator

A family of Ukrainians that suffered from a shark attack in Egypt bought a tour from third parties. The press service of Joinup tour operator reported this.

“According to the information provided by host country, tourists have purchased the service of scuba diving from excursion yachts from third parties (not from the tour operator or its partners). According to open sources, starting from November 1, 2019, such services are prohibited in the resorts of Sinai to preserve the underwater ecosystem,” the statement said.

“At first, tourists turned to a guide at the hotel to purchase such a tour. They were refused and warned that the Egyptian government has banned diving from boats. After that, tourists decided to buy such a service from third parties outside the hotel they were staying,” the press service added.

It is noted that all victims are in hospital. The mother received deep bites wounds. The child lost part of the arm below the elbow. Both have already been operated on.

Earlier, a shark attacked a family of Ukrainian tourists in Egypt while they were snorkeling. The Egyptian government took on itself the treatment of Ukrainians, and all necessary medical care is provided to the victims. The Embassy of Ukraine is in contact with the relatives of the victims.

Related: New rules: Tourists need negative PCR test results to enter Egypt

Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development notes that this is not the first time that, despite warnings from tour operators and bans, tourists buy extreme tours from locals outside the hotel. They do not even know that this requires a separate insurance policy.

The Egyptian government earlier has tightened entry rules for tourists. From September 1, tourists will be allowed to enter if they have a negative PCR test.


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