THE remains of a father mauled to death by a shark in the Mediterranean have been recovered, police said.
It comes as chilling footage emerged of more sharks prowling the area a day after the man was savaged near Olga Beach, Hadera, northwest Israel.
A major search and rescue operation was launched on Monday after a shark launched a sustained, frenzied attack on a swimmer who then disappeared.
Harrowing footage showed the diver thrashing about as the water around him foamed red with blood.
The victim screamed “help” and “they’re biting me” while waving his hands in the air, according to an eyewitness, before being dragged out to sea.
Haunting clips emerged of the shark circling around paddling children, even brushing past their legs, moments before it was attacked.
Now, the search has been called off after the authorities discovered human remains almost 24 hours after the swimmer was savaged.
The victim was a married 40-year-old from Petah Tikva who had a particular passion for sharks, according to JFEED.
His distraught family reportedly rushed to the scene near where the man went missing off the tourist beach.
It was previously revealed the missing dad had deliberately stayed in the water to swim alongside the deadly animals.
Local media reported that the man had visited the spot before to swim with the dusky sharks, which are not usually considered a threat to humans.
What is left of the body has been transferred to the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification and examination.
More ominous footage surfaced today of at least five sharks circling in the water near the shore of the beach.
Sinister-looking fins slice through the water’s surface as they roam the shallow water, watched carefully by people on the beach.
Dusky and Sandbar sharks often gather in the area at this time of year because they like the warm water released by a nearby power plant.
The beach area is said to be famous among swimmers and surfers, who play with the sharks’ fins and throw fish for them to eat.
Swimming in the water off Olga Beach was already prohibited, according to JNS.
All the nearby beaches were closed by the authorities following the rare encounter and lined with black flags to enforce a swimming ban.
Police also set up a fence around the mouth of the Hadera River.
Eliya Motai, who watched Monday’s attack, told Ynet: “I was in the water, I saw blood and there were screams.”
One witness called Shlomo shared, “As we were strolling by the water, we witnessed someone struggling in the ocean, fighting off a shark in an attempt to escape.”
“The shark lunged at him. It was hard to watch. It was chilling. We literally saw the shark attack him.
“I don’t understand how the beach wasn’t closed. It could’ve been me. All of us are traumatised.”
Another individual stated, “The reason for the shark attack is understandable. Fishermen frequent this area and their hooks often harm the sharks, causing them to bleed. This provokes the sharks to target humans.”
The Interior Ministry of Israel emphasized the importance of avoiding the water and restated, “Black flags will be displayed at every beach in the vicinity as a sign that swimming is not allowed.”
A member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group explained that large numbers of people gathering around sharks is dangerous, and can easily lead to attacks.
She reported there is a history of people pulling sharks by the tail or entering the water with children to “play” with them – and she called for stricter enforcement.
