Incident Report
Spearfisher Severely Injured by Grey Reef Shark off Mauritius
A spearfisher in the Indian Ocean near Mahébourg, Mauritius was severely injured by a grey reef shark on January 6, 1992, after the predator targeted a fish he had speared and secured to his belt. He survived the encounter but required extensive medical treatment.
Please take a moment to consider the human impact of this event on the victim and their loved ones. The data presented here documents real events that affected real people and families.
Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On January 6, 1992, a male spearfisher was engaged in fishing near île aux Flamants, close to Mahébourg in the Grand Port district of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. The man had successfully speared a jack crevalle and attached it to his belt as he continued his activity on the reef. A grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) was attracted to the bleeding fish and attacked the spearfisher, resulting in severe injuries. The victim was transported to a private clinic in Curepipe for emergency treatment. The injuries sustained were serious enough that amputation of a limb was considered necessary due to recurrent infections that developed following the initial trauma. The incident occurred during a new moon phase on January 5, 1992. This unprovoked attack highlights the dangers associated with spearfishing in tropical reef environments, where the scent and vibrations of freshly caught fish can attract sharks. The practice of securing prey to the body while continuing to fish in shark-inhabited waters significantly increases the risk of predatory encounters. The victim's survival demonstrates the importance of prompt medical intervention in shark bite cases, though serious complications such as infection can pose ongoing challenges in the recovery process.