Great white beheads diver in first fatal shark attack in 2023: report

A diver was decapitated by a 19-foot great white shark early this month when he was harvesting oysters off the coast of Mexico, marking the first fatal shark attack of the year.

The horrific tragedy occurred on January 5 while Manuel Lopez, 53, was collecting ax tripe – a type of mollusk – off Benito Juarez in Sonora, on Mexico’s west coast, You mentioned tracking sharks. He was said to have been diving from the Colorado town of Baredon to the ocean floor without an oxygen tank to catch the creatures, which typically live at depths of 36 to 59 feet.

Lopez’s shell-fishing expedition was cut short when the shark cleared its head, according to Tracking Sharks.

“He was diving when the animal attacked him, impressively tearing his head off and biting his shoulders,” eyewitness Jose Bernal told the outlet.

The attack comes after increased sightings of local sharks have put the area’s fishermen on high alert. “Local divers have been warned of sharks in the area, and most of them haven’t been out for several days,” Bernal said.

However, Lopez, reportedly in need of money, saw an opportunity to kill due to a lack of shellfish. He allegedly decided to ignore the warnings and embark on a hunting trip that would be his last.

Tracking Sharks stated that it is unclear what prompted the apex predator to attack, but it is possible that the shark was attracted to the disturbances and sounds Lopez made while harvesting the mollusks.

Humans It is often confused with seals while wearing a wetsuit, which could prompt the sharks to take “trial” bites. And while creatures generally move after realizing that a victim is not their preferred prey, this scouting gum can be disastrous due to the ranks of sharks in the sea. Serrated, shearing teeth.

Divers are most likely to be confused with seals in December and January, when great white sharks are most prevalent in the Gulf of California, according to Tracking Sharks. Pregnant sharks are said to have been hunting fattened sea lions during that time.