A British tourist's idyllic Costa Rican holiday took a terrifying turn for the worse following a sudden and rare shark attack during a diving excursion. The shocking incident, which underscores the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters, occurred at a resort on the country's Pacific coast.
The victim, a woman whose identity has been protected, was bitten by what officials have identified as a nurse shark. Contrary to their typically docile reputation, this particular animal exhibited highly unusual aggressive behaviour.
A Paradise Trip Turns Painful
The attack was not a brief encounter but a sustained assault. The shark reportedly bit the woman's arm and refused to release its grip, causing significant injury. Fellow divers and guides were forced to intervene in a frantic effort to pry the animal's jaws open and free the injured tourist.
She was subsequently rushed to a local medical facility for emergency treatment. While the exact nature of her injuries remains private, she received professional care and is now in a stable condition, navigating the physical and psychological aftermath of the traumatic event.
Experts Weigh In on Unprecedented Behaviour
Marine biologists have expressed surprise at the shark's conduct. Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) are bottom-dwellers known for their passive nature and are a common sight for divers. They are not typically considered a threat to humans.
This anomalous attack has prompted speculation from experts. Potential triggers could include the shark feeling threatened or cornered, mistaken identity, or an underlying health issue affecting the animal's behaviour. Such an event is classified as exceptionally rare, providing little comfort to the victim but important context for the wider public.
The incident serves as a stark, albeit isolated, reminder that interactions with wild animals always carry an inherent risk, even with species deemed safe.
