Foreigner bitten by shark off Ile Platte |01 April 2013

The Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA) within the Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport said the shark attack happened on Friday March 29 off Ile Platte, which is approximately 140 kilometers south east of Mahe.

The victim, a 34-year-old male, was bitten on his left foot by a shark when he was in the water.

He was onboard a visiting pleasure vessel which had anchored of Ile Platte.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport, the victim received help from the crew who included a trained medical officer.

The victim was airlifted from the island of Platte to Mahé for onward treatment at the Seychelles Hospital.

As a precaution and following a successful operation on the victim’s left foot, it was decided after consultation with medical authorities from the Seychelles Hospital, to allow the victim to be medically evacuated by air ambulance for further onward attention and medical management.

The victim departed Seychelles at around 10.30pm on March 29, 2013. He was in a stable condition, the press release added.
The release noted that according to initial information following a debrief by the victim to medical authorities, he was ‘free diving’ in clear waters at about 25 meters when he observed a shark approaching him, and despite his attempt to evade it, he was bitten on his left foot.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the shark safety technical committee – a committee set up two years ago – has been scheduled for Wednesday April 3, 2013 and its members will receive a full update on the matter.

Members of this committee come from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport, Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration, department of environment, Seychelles National Parks Authority, Seychelles Tourism Board, the lifeguard unit of the Seychelles Police, Seychelles Fishing Authority, Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association and as needed other departments, agencies, companies, or ministries may be and are invited to attend.

The technical committee meets four times a year or when needed, and is at this time reviewing a draft memorandum of understanding between Seychelles and South Africa, as proposed by the KwaZulu Natal Shark Board, for further help on shark management and beach protection.