Fatal Shark Attack on Trochus Shell Diver in New Caledonia

On February 14, 1964, a tragic shark attack occurred in the waters off New Caledonia when a 15-year-old native youth engaged in the traditional practice of diving for trochus shell on a coral reef in the Coral Sea. While conducting his dive, the young diver was suddenly attacked by a shark of unidentified species. The attack was severe and catastrophic in nature, resulting in the amputation of one complete foot and significant portions of the victim's other leg. Despite the available medical care of the era, the extent and severity of the injuries proved fatal, and the youth succumbed to his wounds. The incident was reported on February 15, 1964, by the Sydney Daily Telegraph and other regional news sources. This attack was noted as particularly significant in local context, as it represented New Caledonia's first recorded shark fatality in many years, underscoring both the rarity and the devastating nature of unprovoked shark encounters in these waters. The specific species responsible for the attack could not be definitively identified from available documentation. Trochus niolticus, the primary target of subsistence diving operations in the region, remains an important traditional food and commercial resource in Pacific island communities, though such diving operations do carry inherent environmental risks.