French Man Died After Bull Shark Attack In New Caledonia

A french national was killed after being attacked by a bull shark on Saturday. The incident, which happened in New Caledonia, involved 50-year-old Yves Berthelot who was then snorkeling near the shore, when he was bitten by a 3.5 mm bull shark in his arm, leg and groin.

According to the Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, Berthelot died even before medical assistance were given. “It was really a savage and sudden attack,” a police officer told New Caledonia radio. “Most people on board were health workers, the first aid given was significant but the injuries were such that, unfortunately, there was not much that could be done.”

Meanwhile, Berthelot’s wife, Anne, was admitted in a hospital for treatment of shock after she learned about the accident. “I lost the man of my life,” she said according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Philippe Tirard, a local shark expert commented that Berthelot, who is part of a Noumean call centre company, was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. This is because bull shark attacks are very unlikely to happen in clear, shallow waters.

Berthelot was reported to have hired a catamaran with seven other people for a weekend sailing trip, according to the Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes. When the group arrived in the islands of the south, Berthelot and two other friends went out to go snorkelling; after which the fatal accident happened.

New Caledonia is popular amongst Australian tourist because of the different water activities offered in the archipelago. But according to the Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes, eleven individuals have already been killed by shark attacks in New Caledonia since 1958. The International Shark Attack File, reported that in 2014, 130 individuals were attacked by sharks and more than half of these numbers did not involve provocation from the victims prior to the assault, which is said to have been the case of Berthelot’s unfortunate death.

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