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Concerns are mounting for a diver who went missing and is presumed dead following a shark attack off the coast of Israel. The incident occurred near Hadera, raising fears about shark attacks in the Mediterranean Sea.
Diver Feared Dead After Shark Attack Off Hadera Coast
Social media footage has emerged showing a diver struggling in the water near Hadera’s coast on Monday. Prior to the shark attack, videos depicted beachgoers, including children, gathered in the shallows, observing sharks swimming nearby.
Graphic Footage Captures Attack
Disturbing video footage of the incident depicts the diver further offshore, violently struggling in the midst of a brutal attack, as the sea turned crimson with blood.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness recounting the event to Channel 12 News stated, ‘I observed the diver deep in the water. He cried out that he had been bitten and waved his arms frantically. Moments later, sharks attacked him, and he vanished beneath the surface.’
Rare Mediterranean Shark Attacks
Shark attacks in the Mediterranean are uncommon, with only 50 recorded incidents since 1900, and of those, a mere 11 were fatal, highlighting the unusual nature of this event.
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Search Operation Underway
The Hadera Municipality Coastal Department announced it is ‘conducting jet ski searches to locate the diver and will provide updates as the situation develops.’ Officials are also urging the public to avoid the water in the affected area and to maintain a safe distance from sharks.
Emergency Services Respond
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at Olga Beach around 3:02 pm, with Magen David Adom’s dispatch center receiving the call. Police and rescue teams have been deployed to the scene. Israel Police stated that while forces are on site, no casualties have been found as of yet.
Helicopter Search Initiated
Additional social media footage shows helicopters actively searching the waters for the missing diver, indicating the scale of the ongoing rescue efforts.
Beach Closure Implemented
In the aftermath of the shark attack, authorities have closed Olga Beach to swimmers indefinitely, prioritizing public safety.
Calls for Shark Habitat Regulation
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) stated they had urged the government four years prior to regulate activity in areas frequented by sharks. SPNI explained that every winter sharks and rays gather near the warm water outlets of power stations in Israel, creating a unique phenomenon. They argued that despite the public interest and ecological sensitivity of this event, adequate conservation and safety measures have not been implemented, leading to unregulated conditions.
Eyewitness Describes Shark Behavior Before Attack
Another eyewitness recounted observing sharks close to the shore: ‘I began filming and realized they were sharks. They approached within 164 to 328 feet of the shoreline, causing panic among swimmers. Despite lifeguard warnings to leave the water, some individuals attempted to approach them. The sharks appeared to display a “dance-like” movement from south to north before eventually swimming away.’
Recent Shark Attacks in Egypt
This incident follows a series of shark attacks in Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. In December, a tourist died after a shark attack at a popular resort. Earlier that year, an EU official was fatally attacked while snorkeling at a luxury Egyptian resort. In 2023, a Russian tourist was also killed in a gruesome shark attack in Hurghada, witnessed by horrified onlookers.