Scientist explains what could have caused sharks to attack man feared dead following horrifying footage

A scientist has explained why sharks may have been swimming so close to the Mediterranean coast, resulting in a man getting attacked on an Israeli beach.

The horrific shark attack took place at Hadera's Olga Beach in the Middle Eastern country on Monday (21 April), with the unidentified victim's body being discovered by local police today.

Footage of the shark prior to the attack went viral online, as beach goers could be seen observing the sea animal and pointing it out as it swam around them.

People in the water were simply cooling off from the warm weather, as temperatures of 27°C swept the area.

The man can be heard screaming for 'help', signalling that he was being bitten as those around him looked on in shock.

During this, the fourth such attack in Israeli history at a beach located 40km (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv, members of the public can be heard speaking to authorities in a video of the man being mauled by the shark.

One can be heard saying: "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."

A spokesperson for the Israeli police stated: "Several findings have been sent for testing, and we await the results."

But the question still lingers: why was the shark swimming so close to the shore?

It is said that most of the sharks that are spotted around Hadera are dusky sharks, which are around nine feet long.

The specific species go through long migrations every year to stay in warm waters in the winter, and though they aren't normally aggressive to humans, their behaviour can be altered by those around them.

Dr Adi Barash, a marine biologist, explained: "Heavy human presence stresses the sharks,

"People must avoid touching or feeding them — they are not pets. This is peak feeding season for the sharks, due to increased fish mortality from warming waters and recent holiday rains."

He highlighted: "Authorities must take steps to prevent harmful interactions and ensure the safety of these protected animals."

The man was swimming near the Orot Rabin power station, where the water was warmer due to the plant, as Professor Dov Zviely from the Ruppin Academic Center’s School of Marine Sciences explained why this may have attracted sharks to the shore.

"The warm water creates a current as strong as the Jordan River," he said to The Mirror.

"The sharks come because of the heat but also because many fish wash down from the Alexander Stream, providing a steady food source."