Panic Erupts on San Andres Beach as Shark Attack Unfolds
People frantically fled the waters to the safety of the white-sand beach, Spratt Bight, on the Caribbean island of San Andres, north of Colombia, after a dramatic underwater brawl began on Friday (5 January). This spot is eerily close to where an Italian tourist was killed in a shark attack in March 2022, which understandably sparked panic among the crowds soaking up the sun.
Frantic Flight to Safety
Chilling footage shared on X shows a large shark thrashing in the shallow water just meters away from holidaymakers and locals. A man was seen swiftly exiting the ocean, clutching a toddler in his arms. People beckoned their friends and loved ones still in the water to head to dry land, while others began filming the dramatic incident unfolding on the popular beach.
Heroic Intervention
A tourist worker riding a jet ski decided to intervene, approaching the shark in an attempt to scare it away by circling it, creating ripples in the water. This dizzying tactic eventually worked, as the shark moved away from the coastline and further out to sea. It later emerged that the marine animal, described locally as a hammerhead shark, had been tussling with a manta ray.
Official Response
The jet ski rider was later criticized by San Andres’ sustainable development organization, Coralina, which stated there was no real cause for concern and urged calm among the community. They explained: “They are hammerhead sharks hunting manta rays, part of their diet. Humans are not part of the diet of sharks and even less so with this type of shark, so what people need to do is be careful. Sharks are a fundamental part of trophic networks.”
Marine biology expert Sandra Escobar added, “The important thing is that these incidents not lead to people attacking sharks and regarding them as enemies.”
Previous Tragedies
Beachgoers’ panic on Friday was intensified due to the proximity of Spratt Bight to La Piscinita, a popular snorkeling area where Antonio Straccialini, 56, was tragically killed by a shark in March 2022. Straccialini was bitten by an eight-foot shark, losing a large chunk of his right thigh, and succumbed to hypovolemic shock from severe blood loss. This incident was described as a first for the area, with an island government spokesman saying, “There are diving programmes with professionals in which sharks pass nearby, but nothing has ever happened.” It is thought that a tiger shark was responsible for the deadly attack.
Colombian free diver Cristian Castano also experienced a shark attack off the coast of San Andres in July last year but survived despite a grisly injury.
Tiburón en San Andres 😱 pic.twitter.com/3QKwu5pjih
— 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗔𝗭𝗔 (@Wilson_Suaza_) January 5, 2024