by Colin Hyde
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Aug. 8, 2024
Just about everyone who spearfishes in Belize has had close encounters with sharks, and a few people have suffered injuries, mostly minor. There are reports that the Belize City harbor was once infested with the beasts, and there is a report that a number of members of a family were eaten by sharks after their boat capsized. We would have to go deep into the archives to dig out that one.
Sharks are never far from the minds of people who aren’t regulars in the sea, and even regulars will be on guard, especially when there is blood in the water. Everyone knows the sharks are there, but they haven’t made the news in a big way for some time. A May 20, 2022 story in the San Pedro Sun said that Brian Bradley was savaged by a shark while spearfishing at Turneffe. Bradley needed 60 stitches to an arm. Another San Pedro Sun story, dated July 24, 2021, said a tourist got nipped off the coast of San Pedro. Both those stories were afterthoughts in the national media. But this week a shark made the news in a big way when one savaged a young female tourist.
A social media report late last year or early this year made reference to a bull shark outside of San Pedro that was behaving quite hostile toward human beings. Because no one got bitten, the report didn’t make the main news, but I read enough to believe that one of those fellas had gone rogue. I’d have to search my files to find out exactly what I wrote in my column, but I know I advised that no effort be spared to reel it in.
There is a need for awareness, not alarm. He or she is out there, and until it is dealt with, we just have to be more alert. No one should cancel their caye trip for fear of sharks. If you are going on deep dives, take a weapon, and if you’re just enjoying the shallows, or are at Shark Ray, there’s an infinitesimal possibility it will come near. If it does, it will be seen long before it can hurt anyone.
The fishermen know where the beast is roaming, and in the same way that Jackie Vasquez had the number of the “tigers”, our fisherfolk know these sharks. They just need a little incentive to catch it. Only experienced fisherfolk should be enlisted. We don’t want a shark massacre out there. The forensics on the unfortunate girl’s leg will tell us the size of the shark. Everyone’s suspicion is that it is a bull. Get that beast!
San Pedro Sun
San Pedro fisherman recovering after shark attack near Turneffe area
Friday, May 20th, 2022
A San Pedro fisherman almost lost his hand on Thursday, May 19th, when he was attacked by what appeared to be a five-foot reef shark in the Turneffe area, some 43 nautical miles away from San Pedro. The victim, Brian Bradley, was spearfishing along with other fishers, when the shark suddenly bit his right hand and lower arm. Following the ordeal, Bradley was transported to San Pedro Town for medical treatment and then airlifted to Belize City for further medical attention.
Brian Bradley
Fellow fisherman Francisco Morales, who witnessed the incident, said the shark bite badly damaged Bradley’s wrist area. Morales spoke to us about the incident, providing details of what happened. The three of them were in the water with a kayak spearfishing, including Bradley. As they dove looking for fish, Bradley signaled that there was a grouper nearby. He took a shot but missed. Morales, affectionately known as ‘Quack’ or ‘Uncle France,’ said Bradley called him over to help him catch the grouper. Morales managed to spear it with his gun. Bradley then started swimming away from Morales with the grouper towards the kayak.
It was then that Bradley started shouting for help. Morales immediately started swimming towards him, and as he got closer, the shark came into view. “I saw the shark. I think it was coming to attack him again,” said Morales. “It had already attacked him because Bradley had his right hand out of the water profusely bleeding.” Morales said he readied his spear gun and shot at the shark to scare the big fish away. However, the shark kept coming back. “When the shark returned and came close to me, I took the speargun stick and whacked the water around it. The shark would go away and return. I kept fighting with it for like 20 minutes,” said Morales. During this time, he was shouting for his other fishing colleague, but he seemed to be a distance away.
Bradley was losing a lot of blood. While Morales fought the shark, Bradley told him he felt sick and was about to faint. Still wary of the shark, Morales grabbed him and swam towards the kayak. When they made it to the kayak, they started signaling to their boat, some 100 (yards?) feet away. The boat captain saw them, came to them, and quickly rushed Bradley to San Pedro.
Bradley received medical attention at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II and afterward was airlifted to Belize City’s Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Morales said the injury was so bad that Bradley received over 60 stitches.
Turneffe Area
Bradley remains stable and continues to recover in Belize City. He may be transferred to a private health center for more specialized care.
Morales added that they have always done fishing in that area and never experienced anything like that. He understands that reef sharks can be territorial and (they) may be invading their space. However, the attack was very unexpected. He advises other fishers to be cautious when fishing in those areas to avoid any unfortunate experience. As for him, this incident will not stop him from continuing to do what he has been doing for years. Morales says he will be back fishing in these same unpredictable waters.
July 4, 2021…San Pedro Sun… This may be the first known shark bite off the coast of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, an incident that left an American male tourist with an injured hand. On Saturday, July 3rd, while on a diving tour in an area outside the Barrier Reef known as ‘Tackle Box,’ a diver was bit on his left hand by what was described to be a bull shark, although others believe it was a reef shark.