A Spanish tourist is fighting for his life after a shark attack in the Maldives left him with an amputated leg during his honeymoon, with his wife lodging a complaint against the tour operator
A tourist is battling for his life after a shark attack during his honeymoon. The holidaymaker endured severe blood loss and had his leg amputated following an emergency airlift to hospital.
The victim of the Maldives attack has been identified as Borja, a Spanish gynaecologist. El Periodico Mediterraneo, a daily newspaper covering Spain’s east coast province of Castellon, reported that he is from Alicante and had recently married a local woman named Ana before they jetted off to the Indian Ocean paradise for their first holiday as husband and wife.
The terrifying incident reportedly occurred on Monday afternoon near Kooddoo, one of the inhabited islands of Gaafu Alif Atoll. Local media reports suggest the victim was part of a group that entered the water at a popular spot near the Kooddoo fish processing plant, an area known for high shark activity.
The Spanish tourist was initially rushed to the Ga. Atoll Hospital before being airlifted to Male, the densely-populated capital of the Maldives, and admitted to an intensive care unit at ADK Hospital. The location of the attack is renowned for large schools of Spinner sharks, although the involvement of a Bull shark has not been dismissed.
Local reports allege that the Kooddoo facility had not disposed of fish waste for approximately a week, with one source quoted as saying: “The sharks were likely in a heightened state of hunger and anticipation. When the group jumped in, the entry itself may have
The incident reportedly “triggered a predatory response.”
El Periodico Mediterraneo, citing a source close to Ana’s family today, revealed: “With one bite, it took all the flesh from the knee down off her husband’s leg.”
It was reported that she has already filed a formal complaint against the company that arranged their group outing, accusing them of negligence.
Family members of Ana, who is described as the daughter of a prominent Castellon businessman, have jetted out to the Maldives to support her.
A family friend told the Spanish daily: “They are trying to save Borja, he’s in intensive care, but the medical conditions there are very precarious.”
Kooddoo is home to a four-star hotel known as the Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, which is a favoured honeymoon spot.
Late last year, a 26-year-old Chinese woman was injured after allegedly pursuing a shark in the Maldives to “play with it.”
She is believed to have been menstruating at the time and sought professional advice about diving during her period before being assured it was safe.
The woman used a tampon and entered the water but was attacked after spotting nurse sharks and chasing them to play. She was left with deep bite marks on her wrists.
The Maldives host 31 shark species, 29 of which are globally threatened.
In April last year, Russian tourist Ekaterina Alexandrova, a 30-year-old dentist from Moscow, recounted the terrifying moment she was attacked while snorkelling with a friend in the Indian Ocean paradise.
By staronline@reachplc.com (Natalia Penza, Abigail Hunt)
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