Wing Foiler Fatally Attacked by Tiger Shark in New Caledonia

On February 22, 2026, a fatal shark attack occurred in the lagoon near Anse Vata at Point Magnin in Noumea, New Caledonia. The victim, a 55-year-old emergency room doctor originally from Caen, France, was practicing wing foiling when he was attacked by a tiger shark estimated to measure approximately 3 meters in length. According to authorities and forensic examination, the shark inflicted six bite wounds across the victim's right forearm, right leg, and left leg. The injuries to his right leg were catastrophic, with the shark's bite severing both the femoral artery and vein. A shark expert confirmed that the bite patterns were consistent with those of a large tiger shark. The victim's body was discovered in the lagoon by a passing boater, who alerted authorities to the incident. Emergency services responded, but the severity of the injuries proved unsurvivable. This fatal attack marked another serious shark incident in New Caledonian waters and prompted swift action from regional officials. The South Province and the City of Noumea announced plans to implement a culling program targeting tiger sharks and bull sharks in the area in response to this attack and other recent shark incidents. The incident highlighted the inherent risks associated with water activities in regions inhabited by large predatory sharks and reignited discussion regarding shark management strategies and beach safety protocols in the Pacific territory. The victim's death represented a significant loss to the local medical community, where he had served as an emergency room physician.