A 12-year-old American boy is recovering after being attacked by a shark on Tuesday while swimming in the Bahamas, local authorities said.
The child, whose identity has not been released, was in the waters off Staniel Cay with his brother when the attack occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m., the Royal Bahamas Police Force
shared in a statement Wednesday.
The boy was on a tour of the Exumas, an archipelago of more than 350 islands and cays, with his family at the time of the incident, his mother told police.
Following the attack, the child was transported to a hospital in New Providence, the most populous island in the Bahamas, located about 80 miles away from Staniel Cay.
Officials did not provide any additional details about the type of injuries the boy sustained in the shark encounter but said he did receive medical treatment. As of Wednesday, the child was listed to be in stable condition.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File, there have been only 30
confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1580—far less than in the United States, which recorded 1,441 incidents during the same period.
Earlier this year, in March, a 22-year-old Australian woman was swimming in the ocean near the village of Fresh Creek on the island of Andros when she was attacked by a shark in shallow waters. The Royal Bahamas Police Force
said in a statement that her right arm was severely injured in the attack. She received care at a local clinic before being airlifted to a hospital in New Providence for further treatment.
In August of last year, a 63-year-old American was seriously injured by a shark while spearfishing near the Big Grand Cay, local police
shared in a press release. The man was also treated at a clinic before being airlifted to the United States for additional medical assistance.
The International Shark Attack File notes that while shark bites are rare, people can take simple precautions to help reduce the risk of an encounter. Some of the recommendations include not swimming alone, staying close to the shore, and avoiding the water when sharks are more likely to be active, such as during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours.
Swimmers should also avoid wearing shiny jewelry, which can reflect light and resemble fish scales, as well as high-contrast clothing, which sharks are able to see very well. A complete list of preventative tips can be found
online.
