A 40 year old man was killed by one shark in northern New Caledonia, the Prosecutor’s Office announced. The man, originally from the island of Maré, in the eastern part of the French overseas territory, was with his family on the islet of Kendek, where he was practicing underwater fishingaccording to a press release.
Severely wound on the arm by a shark and unconscious, the forty-year-old was transported by relatives to the nearby town of Koumac, on Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia, before being rescued by volunteer firefighters and emergency services.
Since the emergency room of Koumac hospital has been closed since January 1st due to lack of medical staff, a Smur team was sent from Noumea (south). The emergency doctor declared death after a few hours, despite attempts to resuscitation.
The Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation to ascertain the causes of death and try to identify the species of shark involved. In June 2024, another shark attack occurred in Poindimié, in the north-east of Grande Terre. According to information provided by the prosecutor, a man who was kitesurfing at the time is drowned before his body was attacked by several sharks.