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Tragic Snorkelling Fatality: Wife Claims Victim Only Intended to Film Sharks
In a tragic incident, a father of four died following a shark attack while snorkelling. His wife insists that his sole intention was to film the marine predators, with no intent to “touch or feed” them. She aims to set the record straight regarding the circumstances leading up to the devastating event. This occurrence has prompted increased awareness of shark behaviors, coastal safety, and the importance of respecting marine wildlife. The incident occurred along the Israeli Mediterranean coast.
Search Concludes with Identification of Barak Tzach
Barak Tzach, 40, has been formally identified as the victim, following an extensive two-day search operation. Police verified that remains discovered at the site of the attack on the Israeli Mediterranean coast belonged to Tzach. A distressing video captured the moment the man appeared to struggle with a creature amidst the ocean waves at Hadera, shocking onlookers.
Shark Aggregation and Conservation Concerns
An assembly of dusky and sandbar sharks, both classified as endangered species, habitually inhabits the waters near Hadera, attracting observers. Some visitors have been observed touching their tails and providing food, actions that conservationists have urged authorities to prevent by discouraging interactions between humans and wildlife.
Beach Hotspot Draws Criticism
The beach had recently become a hotspot, attracting crowds who took to swimming alongside the sharks. Officials have sternly denounced such behaviour, issuing warnings to maintain a secure distance from the animals. Despite a swimming prohibition at the location, individuals persist in entering the water, according to the *The Mirror*.
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Wife’s Account: Revealing the Truth
Snorkelling Gear and Underwater Camera
In a Facebook post, a woman identified by the Israeli press as Tzach’s spouse mentioned that he had equipped himself with snorkelling gear and an underwater camera before entering the sea. She stated this wasn’t his first time swimming in those waters.
“Document the Sharks, Not to Feed Them”
“Barak entered the water to dive and document the sharks, not to feed them or play with them,” Sarit Tzach wrote. She added that a fisherman accompanying her husband confirmed he did not touch or feed the creatures. “With deep sorrow and wordless pain, we announce the death of our husband and father. I would like to put an end to the rumours that are being spread around the circumstances of his death and tell the truth.”
“On the day of his death, Barak arrived at the beach after a day of work, as he often did. He entered the sea equipped with a snorkel, mask, fins, and a GoPro camera – without anything else, and certainly not with fish or bait, contrary to rumours.”
Deterring Sharks with a Camera Stick
As the sharks approached, she recounted, he utilized his camera’s stick to “gently distance them.” Subsequently, the fisherman signalled Tzach to return to shore, and he was attacked while heading back, Mrs. Tzach explained.
Fisherman’s Testimony
“In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the incident, I was told that he swam alongside a shark and later moved slightly away in a more open direction,” she stated. “He filmed the sharks from a distance but didn’t touch or feed them. When they started to get too close to him, he used the GoPro’s stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him back to shore, and Barak started swimming slowly toward him – and then he was attacked.”
Heightened Alert After Rare Shark Attack
Third Recorded Attack in Israel
The shark attack, only the third recorded in Israel, has placed authorities and the public on high alert. Yigael Ben-Ari, head of the marine rangers at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, noted that one previous attack dating back to the 1940s resulted in a fatality.
Beach Closures and Ongoing Search Efforts
Following the recent incident, police and rescue teams conducted an extensive two-day search, pledging to continue their efforts for any remaining remains. In response to the dangers presented by the attack, Israeli officials promptly closed the affected beaches and nearby locations to ensure public safety.
Shark Sizes and Holiday Crowds
As Israelis gathered at the beach during a national holiday week, they shared the sea with numerous sharks. This included dusky sharks, capable of growing up to four metres in length and weighing approximately 350 kilograms, and the smaller sandbar sharks, typically around 2.5 metres long and weighing roughly 100 kilograms.
Terrifying Footage Captures Close Encounter
Shark Approaching Beachgoers
Concerning footage has circulated online, showing a large shark swimming dangerously close to beachgoers wading in shallow water. “What a huge shark!” a man can be heard saying in the video, as the shark moves alarmingly in his direction.
“He’s Coming Toward Us!”
“Whoa! He’s coming toward us!” In a tense moment, the man advises a young boy to remain still, saying, “Don’t move!” The boy simply replies: “I’m leaving.” The filmer then asks him, seemingly in disbelief: “What, are you afraid of the sharks?”