THIS is the harrowing moment a swimmer – who is now missing and feared dead – is mauled by a shark in the Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli coast.
Clips posted to social media show a diver flailing around in the water just off Hadera, north-west Israel, in front of horrified crowds.
Earlier clips capture the shark swimming amongst aghast paddlers in shallow waves.
Some seem happy to stay in the water alongside the animal whilst others rushed back to the shore – moments before the attack.
The beast headed further back out and began mauling a swimmer in a sustained frenzy.
The diver could be seen thrashing about as the water around him foamed red with his blood.
People watched in horror from the beach as fins and limbs splashed around – but could do nothing to stop the savaging.
The attack happened in an area where swimming is prohibited, according to JNS.
Footage uploaded to social media shows helicopters scanning the water for the missing diver.
Police have closed the beach while the rescue mission continues.
An onlooker recounted to Channel 12 News what they witnessed: “I observed the diver deep in the water, yelling ‘I’ve been bitten, I’ve been bitten,’ while frantically waving his hands above the water.”
“After a few minutes, sharks bit him – and suddenly he disappeared.’
Channel 12 News also reported that the shark later attacked a rescue diver.
The Coastal Department of the Hadera Municipality stated that they are actively using jet skis to search for the diver and will provide updates as the situation unfolds.
It added: “We urge the public traveling in the area to avoid entering the water and contact with the sharks.”
Emergency teams received a call at 3:02pm for the attack at Olga Beach.
In a communication issued by the Israel Police, it was mentioned, “Not long ago, officers from Hadera Police Station and Maritime Police were sent to Hadera stream in response to citizens’ alerts of a shark encounter with a diver in the area.”
“Forces are en route, but no casualties have been located so far.”
Shark attacks in the Med and Israel are extremely rare.
Dusky and Sandbar sharks often visit the area between November and May, but are not known to attack humans.
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has reacted to the shark attack by insisting it called on the state four years ago to regulate behaviour in waters sharks visit.
It said: “Every winter, a unique phenomenon occurs in Israel in which sharks and rays gather at the outlet of the warm waters of the power stations.
“In the case of such a fascinating and public-attracting phenomenon, it would be appropriate to take conservation and safety measures for the public, but over the years, chaos has developed in the area.”
