Horrific Shark Attack in Israel: Swimmer’s Last Moments Caught on Video
A chilling shark attack off the coast of Hadera, north-west Israel, has left a swimmer missing and presumed dead after a brutal encounter with the predator. In a heart-wrenching series of events, the man, believed to be a swimmer enjoying the waters near the Orot Rabin power station, was heard screaming for help before disappearing from sight. Distressing footage shows the man struggling in the sea, desperately calling out, “Help!” and “They’re biting me!” as he fought for his life.
The attack, which occurred in front of horrified beachgoers, was so violent that the sea around him turned a bright red, indicating the severity of the bite. Onlookers watched in shock and helplessness as the swimmer thrashed in the water, struggling against the shark, but there was nothing they could do. The predator had already begun its assault, and despite attempts by bystanders to alert authorities, the swimmer was soon dragged further out to sea.
Desperate Calls for Help
A beachgoer immediately contacted emergency services, reporting the attack and describing the swimmer’s desperate cries for help. “There’s someone here that a shark has bitten. He’s screaming, ‘Help!’ He’s in the sea at Hadera. He’s drowning,” the witness told dispatchers. As the call continued, the panicked bystander added, “He’s in the sea. Nobody’s coming to save him.”
The situation worsened as the swimmer’s frantic screams were cut off, and it became clear that the man had been pulled under the water by the shark. One beachgoer who was filming the incident could be heard shouting, “Wow, wow, he’s with the shark, he’s fighting him,” before a chilling moment when he declared, “They’re eating him, eating the man… Can’t see him.” The man’s presence in the water quickly faded from view, and he was never seen again.
Shark Sightings and Attack Details
In the hours leading up to the fatal attack, sharks had been spotted in the area, swimming near paddlers in the shallow waters. Some beachgoers appeared oblivious to the danger, choosing to stay in the water, while others rushed to the shore in fear as the predators circled. Authorities later confirmed that the attack took place in a section of the beach where swimming had already been prohibited due to the presence of sharks.
The shark involved in the attack is believed to be a dusky or sandbar shark, species that frequent the area between November and May. While these sharks are not typically known to attack humans, this incident has raised serious concerns about the unpredictability of shark behavior in the region.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the attack, emergency services launched an extensive search for the missing swimmer. Police and rescue teams conducted searches by jet ski, scouring the waters around the power station and the surrounding coastline. Tragically, despite their efforts, the swimmer’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Reports also indicate that the shark may have attacked a rescue diver who was searching for the missing man, further complicating the rescue operations. The Hadera municipality’s Coastal Department confirmed that the swimmer’s belongings were found on the beach, adding to the heartbreaking evidence of the attack’s severity.
Authorities have since closed the beach until further notice, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority issued a renewed warning about the dangers of interacting with sharks, stressing that the creatures are protected animals. The authority also advised the public to stay clear of sharks in the area to avoid further incidents.
A Tragic Reminder of the Ocean’s Dangers
While the shark species involved in this attack are not generally considered a significant threat to humans, this tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks posed by the ocean’s most powerful predators. Shark attacks, though rare, have the potential to turn a peaceful day at the beach into a nightmare, as evidenced by this heart-wrenching tragedy.
The identity of the swimmer has not been released, but the incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving residents and visitors alike shaken by the horrifying events. As authorities continue their investigation and search for the missing man, the beach remains closed, and many are left to process the disturbing footage and desperate calls for help that captured the swimmer’s final moments.
