Spanish Honeymooner in Critical Condition Following Shark Attack in Maldives
A Spanish tourist is fighting for his life after a horrific shark attack during his honeymoon in the Maldives. The victim, identified as Borja, a gynaecologist from Alicante, suffered extreme blood loss and required emergency leg amputation after the incident on Monday afternoon.
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred off Kooddoo, one of the inhabited islands of Gaafu Alif Atoll, near a popular site close to the Kooddoo fish processing plant. This location is known for high shark activity, with local reports suggesting the facility had not dumped fish waste for approximately a week prior to the attack. A source indicated that 'the sharks were likely in a heightened state of hunger and anticipation', and that the group's entry into the water may have triggered a predatory response.
Borja was part of a group that entered the water at this site. According to El Periodico Mediterraneo, a Spanish newspaper, the shark 'took all the flesh from the knee down off her husband's leg' with a single bite. The victim was initially taken to Ga. Atoll Hospital before being airlifted to Male, the densely-populated capital of the Maldives, where he was admitted to an intensive care unit at ADK Hospital.
Background and Response
Borja had just married Ana, a woman from the Castellon province, before they travelled to the Indian Ocean paradise for their first holiday together as a married couple. Ana has reportedly lodged a formal complaint against the company that organised their group excursion, accusing it of negligence. Relatives of Ana, described as the daughter of a well-known Castellon businessman, have flown to the Maldives to comfort her.
A family acquaintance told El Periodico Mediterraneo: 'They are trying to save Borja, he's in intensive care, but the medical conditions there are very precarious.' The area where the attack happened is famous for large schools of Spinner sharks, although the involvement of a Bull shark has not been ruled out.
Context of Shark Attacks in the Maldives
Kooddoo is home to the Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, a four-star hotel popular as a honeymoon destination. This incident adds to a series of shark-related incidents in the region. In late last year, a 26-year-old Chinese woman was injured after reportedly chasing nurse sharks to 'play with them', resulting in deep bite marks on her wrists. She had consulted professionals about diving while menstruating before being told it was safe.
Furthermore, in April last year, Russian tourist Ekaterina Alexandrova, a 30-year-old dentist from Moscow, shared her experience of being attacked while snorkelling in the Maldives, describing the pain as 'intense'. The Maldives are home to 31 shark species, 29 of which are globally threatened, highlighting the complex relationship between tourism and wildlife in this popular destination.
