ANGLER BITTEN ON ARM BY BLUE SHARK..
Fisherman viciously attacked while bringing beast on to boat
A MAN was bitten by a shark while fishing off the south coast at the weekend.
The fisherman sustained a serious lower arm injury while he was deep-sea angling near Cork.
He was given first aid by the crew of the vessel he was on before being transferred to a lifeboat where further casualty care was given on board.
Crosshaven RNLI volunteers were called to the scene at 6pm on Saturday.
A spokesman said: “This was more of an angling accident than a shark attack, there was a bit of a struggle when pulling the shark on board.
“We’re not trying to panic anyone and we wish the patient well.”
The boat called Deora De sailed towards Crosshaven from around eight miles offshore and met with the Crosshaven lifeboat about four miles south of Roches Point.
An ambulance then transported the man, from Belfast, to Cork University Hospital.
A Crosshaven RNLI spokesman added: “This is the first incident of a shark bite we’ve had to deal with, although blue sharks are common.
“I’d like everyone to keep in mind the shark was nowhere near angling or swimming water levels.
“The men involved were fishing for sharks when the bite happened as he was trying to de-hook the fish. He was successful in catching the shark, just unlucky in de-hooking.
“The injury is absolutely not lifechanging.
“It was a repairable flesh wound.
“The guys on board did everything right, it was a small nip while fishing.
“The first aid he received from the men on his boat was second to none.
“I’m completely confident he would be on his way back to Belfast with no issues.”
Although blue sharks are the most common species of shark in Irish waters, they rarely bite humans.
They can measure up to three metres in length, usually feed on small fish and squid and can live for around 20 years.
There was a struggle when pulling the shark on board
Crosshaven rnli Spokesman
yesterday