Man killed in Cape Cod shark attack - shock after first deadly attack for 80 YEARS
A SWIMMER has died in the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts, US, for more than 80 years.
Massachusetts man carried across beach after shark attack
Arthur Medici, 26, of Revere in Massachusetts in the USA died at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after he was given first aid and CPR.
The fatal attack happened at around midday on Saturday, Setember 15th at Newcomb Hollow Beaching in Wellfleet.
Witnesses have claimed that they saw the victim and another man boogie boarding just off the beach when the disaster happened.
There has been an increase in shark sightings in the area as the grey seal population has increased.
We are witnessing sharks feeding aggressively in shockingly shallow water
Shark expert, Gavin Naylor, has said that “shark attacks in the summer are a direct consequence of more people and more animals in the water”.
Mr Naylor warned people against going into the water alone at dawn or at dusk.
At the site of Saturday’s attack, people are greeted by a sign warning them to “Be Shark Smart” and advising swimmers to not swim near seals, close to the shore or in waist deep water.
Harbourmaster Nathan Sears said: “We are witnessing sharks feeding aggressively in shockingly shallow water on an almost daily basis over this past August.
“We work under the assumption that there are always sharks in the vicinity of the swim area.”
Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, said: “I was that guy on the beach screaming, ‘Shark, shark!’
“It was like right out of that movie Jaws. This has turned into Amity Island real quick out here.”
The US National Park Service said it closed beaches for at least an hour about 25 times this year, which is double the annual average.
Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty said: “It is my personal belief that the responsibility for this horrible shark attack rests squarely upon the shoulders of the aforementioned officials for their utter lack of attention and inaction regarding the growing shark problem on Cape Cod of the last few years.”
The last shark attack deal was in 1936 when a 16-year-old was bitten off Mattapoisett.
Just last month, a 61-year-old man suffered puncture wounds following another Cape Cod shark attack.