Perilous Times
Egypt: Shark attacks four Red Sea swimmers
December 2, 2010 - 4:39AM
AP
An oceanic white tip shark mauled four Russian tourists swimming close
to their beach hotels in two separate attacks at an Egyptian Red Sea
resort, a local conservation official said on Wednesday.
Director of Sinai Conservation Mohammed Salem said the shark attacked
two Russians swimming in the Ras Nasrani area near the famed Sharm
el-Sheikh resort in the Sinai Peninsula and bit their arms off.
The same shark may also have been involved in an attack on another
Russian couple on Tuesday swimming close to the resort beach, he added.
The shark badly injured the woman's legs and back, and she had to be
resuscitated after her rescue. The shark also tore the man's legs.
Diving instructor Hassan Salem (not related to Mohammed Salem) said he
was on a dive at the same time of the attack and was circled by the
same shark before it went after the couple.
"I was able to scare the shark away by blowing bubbles in its face, but
then saw it swim to a woman and bite her legs," he told The Associated
Press.
Salem said the water turned red with the blood from the attack, and he
rushed to take the diver he was training out of the water.
All four victims were flown to Cairo for medical treatment and were in
critical conditions.
Mohammed Salem said coast guard authorities were hunting for the shark
and have issued a warning for swimmers to stay out of the water in
Sharm el-Sheikh, a famed scuba diving destination.
He said Egypt sees one to two fatal shark attacks a year and they
increase as the number of tourists and swimmers in the water rises.
The tourism ministry said it has banned swimming in the stretch from
Ras Nasrani to the northern part of Naama Bay, as local authorities
mounted a search for the predator.
"Swimmers will not be allowed in the water until it is declared safe,"
the ministry said.