A 54-year-old Norwegian man was attacked on April 15 by a bull shark in the waters of a popular bay in the seaside resort of Hua Hin in the Gulf of Thailand, while he was swimming near the beach.
A video posted on Facebook the same day, showing the fifty-year-old being carried by a group of men, his lacerated foot bleeding, towards the hospital, quickly went viral.
Supported by medical teams, the Norwegian is out of danger.
Initially, medical staff diagnosed the wound as a simple rock injury…
A video taken from Wat Tham Kaho Tao, a temple near the scene of the attack, shows sharks swimming near the shore.
The injured man, identified as Werner Daniels, was visited by Prachuap provincial deputy governor Kiri Khan in his hospital room.
According to the latter, who also noted the presence of sharks in the area, the shark probably confused the victim’s foot with a fish.
Since then, the authorities have been monitoring the surrounding area and considering preventive measures. According to information from the regional newspaper AEC News Todaylocal fishermen say they are seeing increasing numbers of sharks close to shore.
Known for swimming in warm waters near river mouths, the bull shark is renowned for its aggressive temperament.
Doctor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, quoted by the local newspaper Thai Rath – and reprinted in English by Thai Visa-, believes that we should not give in to panic, shark attacks being very rare.
Signs in Thai, Chinese and English should be installed and a patrol will be in charge of intervening to warn beachgoers. Swimmers are advised not to venture into too deep waters, not to swim at night, to avoid murky waters, and to stay in groups. It is also better to avoid red or orange colored clothing which can be confused with fish.
