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Topics: Shark Attacks, Sharks, Travel, News, World News
Dan Seddon
An extremely rare shark attack occurred in Israel on Monday (21 April).
The unidentified victim, who was pulled underwater and now feared deceased, was swimming at Hadera's Olga Beach next to the country's biggest power station.
In footage captured by fellow beachgoers, the ocean predator could be seen calmly circling multiple paddlers before turning aggressive on the man.
Sandbar and dusky sharks are frequenters of this area, attracted by the warm water and fish that make their way there via a nearby stream, yet this is only the fourth attack of its kind in Israeli history.
Waving his hands in the air, the swimmer was reportedly heard screaming 'help' and 'they're biting me' as members of the public watched on in frozen terror.
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According to The Mirror, one person told the emergency services: "There's someone here that a shark has bitten. He's screaming 'Help!' ... He's in the sea at Hadera. He's drowning. He's in the sea. Nobody's coming to save him."
In separate mobile phone footage, a man frantically shouted: "Wow, wow, he's with the shark, he’s fighting him. They're eating him, eating the man... Can't see him."
It was at this point that several sharks are believed to have dragged him out to sea.
Local authorities are now conducting a search for the victim, whose belongings were found on the sand, while it's also been revealed that one of the rescue divers was attacked.
Olga Beach is closed until further notice, too, which was already a prohibited area for swimmers, with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority stating: "The Authority reiterates its warning against interacting with sharks and once again calls on the public to avoid approaching them, as they are protected animals."
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A police spokesperson added: "A short time ago, police officers from the Hadera station were dispatched following a report from citizens who claimed to have seen a shark attacking a diver in the water. We will continue to update according to developments. We call on the public travelling in the area to avoid entering the water and coming into contact with the sharks."
This comes after a Canadian tourist's hands were brutally chomped off by a shark in the Turks and Caicos Islands as she attempted to take a picture of it.
Authorities subsequently issued a stark warning to those visiting the beaches of Turks and Caicos, urging them to remain cautious of their surroundings and to respect local marine life.
"The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life," a statement read. "Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances."