Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
The man who was attacked by a shark in the waters of the North Coast Trinidad over the weekend, has been treated at hospital and is recovering at home. However, the incident has sparked fear among some beachgoers.
“They put stitches, about 35 or 40 stitches, one stitch each to a wound. They say they couldn’t close it because of bacteria in the shark’s mouth as well as the ocean,” he explained.
The spear fisherman, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was early Sunday morning and he was approximately one-quarter to one-half of a mile away from the shore at Surfers Delight, Blanchisseuse Beach, when the shark attacked.
He was alone at the time.
“You does normally get a lil red fish, a lil lobster...I swam out to the reef and about 6.30 I was just milling about waiting for the sun to come up, the water was a lil murky, I saw a lil redfish and I end up shooting that,” he explained.
The fisherman said he took his knife and stabbed the fish, allowing the blood to run out.
“It does taste better,” he said.
He saw another redfish and went after it.
The man explained that while doing so, he knew something was wrong when the fish he speared swam over his shoulder. He had no idea a Blacktip Reef Shark was near.
“The shark just speeding coming in to get the fish end up latching on to my shoulder, violently grabbing on and shaking, that point of time I started to swim up and shake it off,” he explained.
He said by this point the cord and the fish were wrapped around him and he was bleeding.
“He came in again and I end up nudging him and he went away a lil bit, set back the gun and the next time he came in I end up shooting him in the gill,” the fisherman explained.
The man said he hooked the shark (half alive) to the buoy and swam back to shore.
The shark attack, however, has not left the fisherman scared. He said he would return to the water tomorrow if he could.
But the incident has left others worried.
Water and Safety Education Officer at the Ministry of National Security, Allister Livingston, said since the video of the attack surfaced on social media, several people had reached out to him asking if the beaches are safe.
Livingston said Blacktip Reef Sharks are popular in T&T’s waters and are a bit aggressive if they are agitated or in a feeding frenzy.
“If you’re in their territory of the predator exercise caution and when you see the shark in the waters or approaching get out, do not take the chance, sometimes we assume. Keep in mind that they can be a threat to your life. No two sharks are alike, you will go and play with 10 and the 11th could bite you,” he said.
According to veterinary epidemiologists, Blacktip Reef Sharks are found in shallow waters and have a strong hunting instinct. They have been blamed for shark attacks in coastal waters. Experts advise that if you see a Blacktip Reef Shark you should get out of the water.
