Fisherman Bitten by Sand Tiger Shark During Release Attempt

On January 5, 2024, a 62-year-old man from Plettenberg Bay was shoreline angling with a companion at Papiesfontein, northeast of Jeffreys Bay on South Africa's Eastern Cape coast. The pair were preparing for an upcoming angling competition when the fisherman successfully landed a ragged-tooth shark (sand tiger shark). While attempting to free the hooked shark from his fishing gear to release it back into the Indian Ocean, the animal bit him, inflicting lacerations and puncture wounds to his hand and calf. The incident is classified as provoked, as the injury occurred during the fisherman's deliberate effort to handle and release the captured shark. His companion immediately applied tourniquets to control bleeding before emergency services arrived at the scene. Multiple agencies responded quickly to the incident. NSRI Jeffreys Bay and Eastern Cape Government Health EMS, along with Gardmed and Relay ambulance services, attended the beach. NSRI medics added an additional tourniquet and pressure bandages to further stabilize the wounds. The patient was transported by Gardmed ambulance to hospital in stable condition, with medical personnel anticipating a full recovery. This incident underscores the inherent risks associated with handling large sharks, even in contexts where release is the intended outcome. Sand tiger sharks, known scientifically as Carcharias taurus, are generally not considered aggressive toward humans but will defend themselves when captured or threatened. The quick response of bystanders and emergency services, combined with appropriate first aid measures, contributed significantly to the positive outcome in this case.