Costa Maya, Q.R. — A 58-year-old Costa Maya fisherman was left with a leg gash after being bitten by a shark over the weekend. The incident happened Sunday afternoon while the man was removing his nets from the sea.
Area fisherman Arnuflo “R” said he was in the water around 2:00 p.m. off Banco Chinchorro when he felt a bite. Other fishermen helped get him to a Mahahual dock where he was treated for a 15 centimeter gash just below his left knee. An ambulance then transferred him to hospital for further treatment.
He was taken to the IMSS Hospital in Chetumal where he was reportadly treated for a deep gash and a fractured patella.
After the report of the shark bite, authorities from the Harbor Master’s Office urged fishermen to take precautions with the increased presence of sharks in shallow areas.
Around the same time Sunday, a tour boat off the island of Cozumel spotted a shark hunting fish. The sea hunt was captured by tourists off Playa Mia in Cozumel where a hammerhead shark was seen hunting off the southern part of the island.
A group on a Tours Aloha Cozumel boat Sunday afternoon watched as fish jumped out of the water to avoid being caught by the fast moving shark. Riviera Maya divers recently reported on the increased sighing of sharks in the area.
