US tourist attacked by shark, severely injured while spearfishing in the Bahamas

A 63-year-old American tourist was severely injured after a shark attacked him while he was spearfishing in the Bahamas, according to authorities.

The frightening encounter occurred just after 1 p.m. Sunday near Big Grand Cay, a remote stretch of the Abaco Islands, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was yanked from the water with severe injuries and rushed to a local clinic before being airlifted to the US for additional treatment, police said.

The victim’s current condition is unknown.

Spearfishing is a popular recreational sport in the Bahamas involving impaling a fish’s body with a long, sharp tool, such as a spear, gig, or harpoon.

The Bahamas has earned a reputation as a shark hotspot thanks to a few high profile cases, though attacks still remain rare.

There have been 34 confirmed shark attacks in the Bahamas over the last 400 years, according to the International Shark Attack File, which ranks it ninth highest in terms of shark encounters among all countries tracked by the database.

An American tourist thought she was “going to die” after a shark attacked her and her friend while swimming at the vacation hotspot in February.

In late March, a spate of shark attacks and crime across the Bahamas prompted US officials to reissue a travel advisory against the Caribbean nation right in the thick of the spring break travel rush.

The US State Department issued a Level 2 travel warning against the Bahamas, cautioning American travelers to “exercise increased caution” when visiting.

“Stay alert for sharks. Shark attacks have led to serious injuries and death,” the State Department cautioned at the time.