Spearfisher Attacked by Bull Shark on Abaco Reef

On the morning of June 28, 2008, a 42-year-old male spearfisher encountered a bull shark while diving on a reef approximately 40 minutes north of Treasure Cay in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas. The incident occurred in crystal-clear, calm waters at a depth of 15 feet. The diver was spearfishing for grouper and snapper when he spotted a large snapper on the bottom and descended to pursue it. Within five seconds of successfully spearing the fish, he was attacked from behind by an approximately 6-7 foot bull shark. The shark seized his lower leg between the knee and four inches above the ankle. The diver responded instinctively, striking the shark repeatedly in the head with his fist until the animal released him. The spearfisher immediately surfaced and called for help. Two companion divers, Danny and Walter Neal, who were positioned about 30 yards away, responded within seconds. While one diver helped the injured man toward the boat, the other positioned himself defensively between them and the still-circling shark. In the vessel, the dive team applied pressure dressings and a tourniquet to control bleeding during the critical 40-minute transit to Treasure Cay, where emergency responders were standing by. The diver was stabilized locally, then airlifted to Jackson Memorial Trauma Center in Miami, Florida. Surgeons successfully reattached the calf muscle and tendons damaged in the attack. After five days of hospitalization, the patient was released with an excellent prognosis for full functional recovery of his leg. This incident underscores both the inherent risks of spearfishing in shark-inhabited waters and the critical importance of rapid emergency response and modern trauma care.