HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The tranquil waters along the Valencian coast experienced an unexpected disturbance on Thursday, August 17, when a man enjoying a leisurely swim at Aigua Blanca beach in Olivia was unexpectedly bitten by a shark.

Remarkably, the victim remained uncertain about the origin of his injury until he underwent a medical examination. Recounting the incident, he shared, "A shadow caught my attention, followed by a blow to my left leg and a subsequent bite to my right foot." He explained that he had been wading in knee-deep water, surrounded by oblivious fellow bathers when the attack happened.

Maintaining his composure, the man ventured into deeper waters to avoid alarming other beachgoers. There, he inspected his wound and, noticing it was still bleeding, sought assistance at a beach health post. From there, he was directed to the Olivia Health Centre, where he received treatment. Medical professionals promptly identified that the injury was indeed a shark bite.

Consequently, the Olivia City Council swiftly ordered the evacuation of swimmers from Aigua Blanca, Rabadells, and Aigua Morta beaches due to multiple additional sightings of the blue shark. These beach closures remained in effect until Friday morning, when it was confirmed that the shark had departed Valencian waters.

Undeterred, both locals and tourists resumed their ocean activities once the beaches reopened. The victim himself expressed his determination not to let the shark attack hinder his beach visits, stating, "Once my foot heals, my first move will be to return. If you let fear rule you, you'll never move forward."

Just a short distance away at Piles beach, on the evening of August 18, another shark sighting prompted lifeguards on jet skis to guide swimmers away from the water as a precautionary measure. One witness recounted, "I was in the water with my daughter when we saw the lifeguard approaching on the jet ski. We were unsure of the situation." The lifeguard informed them of the need to exit the water.

Spanish authorities temporarily closed the beach following the blue shark sighting, but operations were reinstated by Saturday morning. While the shark attack was indeed an unexpected event, it's worth noting that the blue shark is a fairly common species and is a regular visitor to Spanish shores. Although they are easily observable since they tend to stay close to shorelines, the Oceanogràfic Foundation pointed out that typically, they only receive around four to six sighting reports annually. However, this summer has seen a significantly higher number of sightings.

The occurrence of the blue shark in the shallow waters near Oliva suggests that it might have been unwell or disoriented.

Oceanogràfic biologist Jaime Penadés explained that such behaviour is atypical for them since crawling through sand is not their natural environment. He emphasised that the incident in Oliva was more of an interaction between the animal and a human rather than a deliberate attack. The blue shark possesses sharp teeth and a powerful upper jaw, implying that more severe injuries would have resulted if it had intended to attack.

Penadés aimed to reassure people about shark encounters, emphasising the minimal likelihood of shark attacks. Globally, the annual count of shark-induced fatalities ranges from seven to twelve cases. He further noted that the majority of fatal occurrences involve significantly more hazardous species like the great white and tiger sharks.

Sources

https://murciatoday.com/swimmer_attacked_by_blue_shark_on_spanish_beach_2222138-a.htm