Young Snorkeler Bitten by Lemon Shark in Seychelles

A 6-year-old child was bitten by a lemon shark in approximately 30 cm of water just one metre from shore — an unusually shallow, near-shore encounter — sustaining injuries (four severed tendons, shredded instep) severe enough to require emergency air evacuation and two hours of reconstructive surgery to save the foot.

On March 2, 2023, a 6-year-old boy was snorkeling with his family at Grande Sœur, a private islet near Praslin Island in the Seychelles. The incident occurred in the early afternoon in shallow water approximately 30 centimeters deep, about one meter from shore. While the boy waited in the shallow water, a lemon shark that had appeared calm suddenly lunged and bit his left foot. Witnesses reported significant bleeding at the scene. Local tour operators had previously described the lemon sharks in the area as harmless, making the unprovoked attack unexpected. Family members immediately applied a compression bandage to control bleeding and evacuated him by boat to the nearest medical facility, a journey taking approximately 45 minutes. Due to the severity of the injury, he was subsequently transferred by air to Mahé for emergency surgery. Surgeons performed a two-hour operation that successfully saved his foot. The bite had caused severe damage, tearing four tendons and causing significant tissue damage to the left instep. Following initial treatment in the Seychelles, the boy was transferred to Necker Hospital in Paris for continued care and rehabilitation. Medical professionals estimated a recovery timeline of two to two and a half months before he would be able to walk again. The incident was non-fatal, though it resulted in permanent physical trauma and an extended recovery process for the young victim.