Home / Disasters and Accidents / Man Bitten by Shark Off Irish Coast
Man Bitten by Shark Off Irish Coast
12 Aug
Summary
- A man sustained a leg injury from a shark bite near Ardmore.
- Irish Coast Guard helicopter and lifeboats responded to the incident.
- The injured man was airlifted to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
An emergency situation unfolded yesterday afternoon off the coast of County Waterford when a man was bitten by a shark. The incident occurred on a fishing vessel located south of Ardmore. Responding to a call received around 4:15 pm, the Irish Coast Guard dispatched their Waterford-based helicopter, Rescue 117, to the scene.
Assisting the helicopter response were the Ballycotton RNLI all-weather lifeboat and the Youghal RNLI inshore lifeboat. The injured man, who sustained a leg injury from the bite, was winched onto Rescue 117. He was then transported to Cork University Hospital.
The patient was handed over to the Health Service Executive and remains in hospital care. Ireland's waters are home to approximately 71 species of sharks, skates, and rays, according to the Irish Marine Institute. These include various smaller species as well as larger ones like Mackerel and Cow sharks, and even the Basking shark, the world's second largest.
