Features and motivation of a fatal attack by a juvenile white shark, Carcharodon carcharias , on a young male surfer in New Caledonia (South Pacific)

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 551 - 554
• Main Authors: Clua, Eric, DVM, PhD, Reid, Dennis, BSc, MStats
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2013; Churchill Livingstone Inc., Medical Publishers
• Subjects: Animal attacks; Animal bites; Animals; Bites and Stings - pathology; Forensic medicine; Humans; Hunger; Inter-dental distance; Juvenile predator; Male; Multiple strikes; Multiple Trauma - pathology; New Caledonia; Non provoked; Pathology; Predatory Behavior; Sharks; Shock - etiology; Surfing; Young Adult; New Caledonia; Non provoked; Inter-dental distance; Multiple strikes; Juvenile predator
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.03.009

Abstract We present the case of a non provoked fatal shark attack on a 19-year old male surfer in New Caledonia. Several severe bites removed the right arm and all flesh from the right thigh, provoking a quick hypovolemic shock that was fatal. The information provided by a witness and the analysis of a partial bite on the right calf allowed us to identify a 2.7 m TL (est. length) white shark as responsible for this attack. The features of the attack are consistent with a young predator motivated by hunger and the development of its predatory skills.