A woman has been hospitalised after being bitten on the buttocks by a 'deranged' turtle that has now claimed three victims off Croatia's Adriatic coast. The reptile, believed to be a loggerhead turtle, has attacked a child and two adults in a series of incidents that have left local swimmers terrified.
According to Croatian media, the woman suffered a broken finger and a bite to the buttocks while swimming at Poštansko. Her daughter described the attack: 'My mother was swimming in Poštansko. The diver told her that a large turtle was coming towards her, but by the time he warned her, it had already bitten her on the thigh and wouldn't let go. Mother beat her until she let go. She was left with a bruise from the bite.'
Wounds described as 'superficial' for other victims
While the wounds of the child and one adult have been described as 'superficial' by Croatian media, the latest victim was taken to a local hospital where the bite was confirmed as coming from a turtle and she received stitches. Antonija Žanić, director of the local Emergency Medical Service, confirmed the woman was treated and given stitches.
Experts baffled by unusual aggression
Marine biologist Pero Tutman, who works at the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Croatia, expressed surprise at the turtle's behaviour. 'It's a completely unusual situation for me, that turtles attack people. It's not a behaviour that's characteristic of them, they're not aggressive because they're not that type of predator. They feed on completely different organisms. They can't even feed on fish because fish are much faster than them. Whether this is related to global warming, I really don't know. It is unusual for them to come so close to the coast and to show such a reaction to people.'
Safety advice for swimmers
In the rare event of approaching a loggerhead turtle, swimmers are advised to stay away and avoid touching the creature. If a bite occurs, the recommendation is to leave the water immediately and alert the nearest medical authority.
