Tiger Shark Attack During Spearfishing Expedition in Fiji

Josateki Tunisau's 45-minute swim through blood-stained water to support the fatally wounded victim was recognised with Britain's George Medal for civilian bravery, making this a well-documented act of exceptional heroism; the incident is also cited in multiple published references and the victim's final words asking companions to care for his wife and children add a poignant human dimension.

On May 8, 1964, a spearfishing party of eight men ventured five miles offshore to a reef near Naviti, Viti Levu, Fiji. The conditions were favorable—a bright, sunny morning with clear water at approximately 80°F and a depth of six feet. At 11:30 a.m., one of the divers had just successfully speared a saqa (jack crevalle) when a tiger shark struck suddenly and without warning. The initial attack tore away the man's buttocks with devastating force. He surfaced and cried out that he had been mortally wounded. The shark attacked again within moments, this time removing his lower abdomen and genitalia. In the chaos that followed, seven of the eight men immediately swam toward their boat. However, one man, Josateki Tunisau, chose a different course of action. Rather than flee, Tunisau swam to his wounded companion and hoisted him onto his back, then began swimming toward the distant vessel in shark-infested waters. For approximately 45 minutes, Tunisau supported the injured man while the other crew members sculled their boat toward them, all while the water around them remained bloodied and dangerous. The victim remained conscious when pulled aboard and took time to ask his companions to care for his wife and children before succumbing to his injuries. Though no doctor was present in the village, a former nurse documented the extent of the wounds before burial. The shark responsible was identified as a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) by Josateki Tunisau, who had witnessed the attack directly. Tunisau's extraordinary bravery during the rescue was formally recognized when he was awarded the George Medal by the British government—the nation's highest civilian award for gallantry—in recognition of his willingness to risk his own life to save a friend.