logo
Hydrofoil Surfer Chomped by 8-Foot Shark in Canary Islands

Hydrofoil Surfer Chomped by 8-Foot Shark in Canary Islands

Yahoo4 days ago
On Sunday, a UK man was downwind hydrofoil surfing off the coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, when a suspected 8-foot mako shark attacked his board and leg. The wounds were described as 'deep,' although the unidentified victim is expected to recover.
Two large bite wounds above the man's knee can be seen in reports from the attack. Initially, the shark chomped the board, leaving noticeable gnaw marks, then it went for the flesh. Even though the man was out in open waters, in the Los Molinos area of the island, he was able to escape the shark following the attack, and make it safely to shore.
From there, he was treated by emergency services.
Although shark attacks are rare in the Spanish archipelago, which sits off the coast of northwestern Africa, they have happened in the past.
Sadly, last year, a 31-year-old German woman died in the waters near the Canaries when she was attacked by a shark. The woman had been traveling via catamaran, then she decided to take a dip alongside the boat. A shark attacked her, ripped off her leg, and she reportedly suffered a heart attack. She was airlifted to a hospital on Gran Canaria, where she was pronounced dead.The Canary Islands have long been a rogue and rustic destination for surfers, particularly those in Europe, due to the proximity. With heaving slabs wide open to Atlantic Ocean swells, they have often been called Europe's equivalent to Hawaii.
As for the shark in this rare attack in the Canaries, according to NOAA:
'Shortfin mako sharks are aggressive predators that feed near the top of the food web on marine fishes such as bluefish, swordfish, tuna, marine mammals, and other sharks.'Hydrofoil Surfer Chomped by 8-Foot Shark in Canary Islands first appeared on Surfer on Jul 23, 2025
Solve the daily Crossword
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sources: Several deaths as train derails in south-western Germany
Sources: Several deaths as train derails in south-western Germany

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Sources: Several deaths as train derails in south-western Germany

Several people were killed and many others injured after a passenger train derailed in south-western Germany on Sunday, security sources told dpa. According to initial findings by the federal police in Stuttgart, the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, some 100 people were on the derailed train. So far, the police are assuming at least three people have been injured, said a spokesman. At least two carriages of a regional express train derailed at around 6:10 pm (1610 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg. There had been a storm there beforehand. Video footage from the scene showed emergency services from the fire brigade and rescue service working on the derailed carriages to gain access to the passengers. Loud shouting could also be heard. The footage showed several derailed carriages, with at least one overturned. Fallen trees are also visible at the accident site. The Reutlingen control centre reported a so-called "mass casualty incident," a term used by emergency services to describe a situation where a large number of injured people need to be treated. Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl was making his way to the accident site on Sunday evening to gain an impression of the rescue operations, his spokesman said. The federal police spokesman could not initially provide any information on the cause of the accident. The train was on its way from the town of Sigmaringen to city of Ulm, both in Baden-Württemberg.

Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack
Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack

A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg in a shark attack while swimming with several other children. The incident occurred at Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia, on Friday, July 25, according to the Agence France-Presse (APF), per Macau Business and 24 News. The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when he was bitten on his right forearm and left hand, as well as one of his calves, which was torn off, The Sun reported. The child was rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to the larger French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF), located about 930 miles from Nuku Hiva. PEOPLE reached out to the French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF) for comment on Sunday, July 27, but did not receive an immediate response. A firefighter who assisted on the scene told the AFP that he had never seen anything like the attack. 'I'm 35 years old, and this is the first time I've seen this. These were long and deep wounds,' he said, per Macau Business and 24 News. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'It's probably related to the fish carcasses that fishermen throw in this area,' the firefighter continued, adding, 'There are many sharks, such as blacktips, hammerheads, and lemon sharks.' French Polynesia is home to over 30 shark species, according to Forbes. A recent study that surveyed over 60 years of shark bites in the region found that many attacks were triggered by human behaviors, like spearfishing and harpooning, and were often a defensive response, the outlet Bay is a popular spot for local fishermen, as well as cruise ships and sailboats, according to a Nuku Hiva tourism site. The surrounding area is known for its many waterfalls, scenic hikes and rich cultural heritage. Read the original article on People

Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack
Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Boy, 7, Loses Part of His Leg and Suffers 'Long and Deep Wounds' in Shark Attack

The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when the attack took place A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg in a shark attack while swimming with several other children. The incident occurred at Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia, on Friday, July 25, according to the Agence France-Presse (APF), per Macau Business and 24 News. The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when he was bitten on his right forearm and left hand, as well as one of his calves, which was torn off, The Sun reported. The child was rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to the larger French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF), located about 930 miles from Nuku Hiva. PEOPLE reached out to the French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF) for comment on Sunday, July 27, but did not receive an immediate response. A firefighter who assisted on the scene told the AFP that he had never seen anything like the attack. 'I'm 35 years old, and this is the first time I've seen this. These were long and deep wounds,' he said, per Macau Business and 24 News. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'It's probably related to the fish carcasses that fishermen throw in this area,' the firefighter continued, adding, 'There are many sharks, such as blacktips, hammerheads, and lemon sharks.' French Polynesia is home to over 30 shark species, according to Forbes. A recent study that surveyed over 60 years of shark bites in the region found that many attacks were triggered by human behaviors, like spearfishing and harpooning, and were often a defensive response, the outlet Bay is a popular spot for local fishermen, as well as cruise ships and sailboats, according to a Nuku Hiva tourism site. The surrounding area is known for its many waterfalls, scenic hikes and rich cultural heritage. Read the original article on People

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store