The woman - who has not been identified - was in Penzance, Cornwall, with Blue Shark Snorkel Trips when the accident happened on Thursday. The British Sea Fishing website said: 'Blue shark attacks on humans are extremely rare but have been recorded. A blue shark attack is not going to happen to an ordinary person enjoying the coast, an expert from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust has said. The female swimmer is said to have been on a snorkelling trip to see blue sharks in Penzance harbour. Shark attacks increased around the world in 2021 following three consecutive years of decline, officials said in January. He was a cherished fiance, son, brother, uncle and friend," they said. The 7ft porbeagle took hold of Hamish Currie's steel toe-capped boot after his crew caught it and hauled it on to the deck of their vessel. He regularly fishes for pollock, plaice, bream and cod. And usually very, very peaceful. It is believed the swimmer suffered a leg injury. But one of them got too close and snagged around the shark's dorsal fin, turning it into a living torpedo. None of them tend to attack humans. ', Penzance Harbour, where the organised excursion had set off from before the bit happened. They were then left in the care of paramedics. Mr Pullen, who has been catching sharks for 45-years even suggested the fin could belong to a "small, immature great white" that came close to the shore to feed on seals and bass. She suffered a leg injury and was treated by medics at the scene at around 12.30pm. Researchers with theInternational Shark Attack Filerecorded 73 unprovoked incidents last year, compared to 52 bites in 2020, according to the report. It is thought the latest incident happened when the shark was already dead, having been reeled in by the trawler about 120 miles off Lands End. A snorkeller was the recent victim of a suspected shark attack off the coast of Cornwall in the UK. ", Ultimately, despite their normally calm nature, blue sharks must be respected as "incredible predators," he warns, "when we (humans) go into their habitat, we shouldn't really be surprised occasionally if there are things like this. "The coastguard team met the casualty at Penzance harbour to assist with passing them into the care of the ambulance service.". The skipper targeted the shark after hearing reports of it attacking seals off Islay in the Inner Hebrides. In 1998 basking sharks were given protected status, meaning they cannot be disturbed in British waters. Mr Pullen, who has been catching sharks for 45-years even suggested the fin could belong to a "small, immature great white" that came close to the shore to feed on seals and bass. At times the crew had to follow after the shark with their boat, which threatened to break the line. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", Man re-arrested on suspicion of murdering woman who disappeared in 2012, 'Unexplained' death of newborn baby in Wiltshire leads to police investigation. Victim received leg injury while on organised excursion to swim with blue sharks. The animal slammed into their boat and killed them both. The swimmer, who sustained a leg injury on Thursday (July 28) off Penzance, was rescued by the coastguard. 'Following advice and assessment from the coastguard, the person walked off the boat and received further treatment ashore.'. Discover Cornwall will help you find out about the county regardless of whether you're a local or a visitor. 'The coastguard team met the casualty at Penzance harbour to assist with passing them into the care of the ambulance service.'. In a statement, she said: I just wanted to say that despite how the trip ended, it was amazing to see such majestic creatures in the wild and I dont for a second want this freak event to tarnish the reputation of an already persecuted species. Blue shark attacks on humans are "extremely rare", with 25 recorded worldwide, according to British Sea Fishing. Several species visit the Cornish waters every year, including blue sharks, porbeagle sharks and basking sharks - who do not tend to attack humans - but shark attacks remain rare, especially in the UK. A swimmer snorkelling off the coast of Cornwall has been involved in a suspected shark attack after suffering from a bite to the leg. Prefers temperatures of 12-20C but can tolerate 830C. It caused deep puncture wounds and Stephen lost so much blood that an RAF Sea King helicopter was scrambled to collect him off the Devon coastline. Daring Stephen Perkins, 52, had just hauled the fish into his boat for a commemorative photograph when it sunk its teeth into his forearm. A Cornish tour agency that arranges snorkel trips to watch blue sharks confirmed a participant had received first aid after an "incident.". Matt Slater, a Marine Officer at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said a blue shark attack is not going to happen to an ordinary person surfing, swimming, or diving around the coast, Sign up for our Daily Newsletter for the latest local news straight to your inbox. They are hunters, which migrate through oceans, eating fish and shellfish. Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. August 2021: The RNLI closed a busy Dorset beach last summer after a shark was reportedly spotted in the water. 'The blood in the water would have stimulated the sharks senses and they would approach initially looking for dinner. expat (originally from Cornwall in the UK), who after spending two years in the RAF, spent the next six years traveling around the world. There's nothing like summertime in Cornwall for a shark attack scare - but what is the truth about these fearsome predators of the deep? The 7ft porbeagle became known as 'the Beast' following an attack in May 2018. "Following advice and assessment from the coastguard, the person walked off the boat and received further treatment ashore," it added. "These occurrences are extremely rare," the company said. Several species visit the Cornish waters every year, including blue sharks, porbeagle sharks and basking sharks. 'In August 2012 a beach in Ceredigion, Wales was closed to bathers due to the presence of a blue shark. The U.S. once again reported the most attacks and Florida accounted for nearly 40% of unprovoked bites worldwide. It is believed the swimmer suffered a leg injury. Steven Greenfields, who was out walking with his family in March last year, said: My whole family was stunned as the animal had really unusual features, but was unmistakably a shark.. Shark attacks remain rare, especially in the UK. "I wanted to thank everyone for their amazing actions. "It is believed the swimmer suffered a leg injury. Mr Venn then sent his snaps to experienced shark fisherman Graeme Pullen, 70, who claimed it was "obviously a shark". The family of a British man killed by a shark in Australia have paid tribute to him, saying he had a "rare gift" in connecting with people. The teacher bashed the fish on the head and it swam away. It warns that blue sharks are "apex predators" with no natural predators and participants "swim with them knowing there is a risk.". A SNORKELLER was bitten by a shark while swimming off the coast of Cornwall, it is reported. Simon Nellist, 35, died in the attack on Wednesday off Little Bay - the first fatal attack in Sydney for 60 years. View our online Press Pack. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. I put a lot of time and effort into chasing the rich variety of fish in the waters of Cornwall. 'Following advice and assessment from the coastguard, the person walked off the boat and received further treatment ashore. "What was a very scary incident was made so much easier by the kindness and calmness of the people around me. Shark fans have fearlessly taken to the sea again to go snorkelling despite a woman being hurt last week in the first shark attack of its kind in 175 years. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The company said in a statement on its Facebook page: As we know, these things can happen when we choose to interact with wild animals in their own environment. "The coastguard was notified just before 12.30pm on Thursday (July 28). Last year an exceptionally rare and fierce-looking shark was washed up near the Cornish coast of a type which has never been recorded in UK waters before. "We've tried to understand why it happened and are in continued talks with shark experts. The sun was shining and there wasnt a breath of wind. Sharks appearing near our water are not uncommon. Simon Nellist was a diving instructor and a regular swimmer at the beach where he died, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The coastguard team met the casualty at Penzance harbour to assist with passing them into the care of the ambulance service. The person involved, whose name has not been disclosed, was reportedly bitten on the leg by a blue shark during an excursion near Penzance. The Sun Online has approached experts The Shark Trust UK for comment. The woman is understood to have been in the water near the Timeline of unprovoked incidents since 1900. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard sentPenzanceCoastguard Rescue Team to meet a snorkeler who suffered a suspected shark bite. A blue shark is pictured in this undated file photo. What was a very scary incident was made so much easier by the kindness and calmness of the people around me. Blue shark attacks on humans are extremely rare, according to the British Sea Fishing website. 'Hopefully this bite is relatively mild stuff but that is not to say that blue sharks cannot inflict much damage because they can. It comes after a recent incident where a snorkeler was bitten on the leg off Penzance . In recent years their numbers have declined by as much as 60 per cent and their conservation status is now 'near threatened'. Now I want to save the species, NSWshark nets caught 325 non-target animals last season, report shows, Summer of shark: spate of encounters leaves New York beachgoers wary, Whale sharks are worlds biggest omnivores, study finds, Were going to need a bigger boat: the rise of the megashark, Calls grow to remove Queenslands outdated shark nets after another whale gets entangled. He said the shark was released shortly after it came to the surface, using barbless hooks which pull away, and swam away. Cornwall is unique - there's no place like it on the planet. And just this last week, fisherman Max Berryman, from Penzance, suffered some of the worst injuries from a shark, whose razor-sharp teeth ripped open his leg. Risky business: Stephen Perkins holds the head of the Blue Shark moments before it nearly bit his hand off. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Karrek at St Enodoc Hotel in Rock wins three AA Rosettes, Karrek at St Enodoc Hotel has received three AA Rosettes placing it among the crme de la crme of UK culinary establishments, Cornwall's school closures for second teacher strike day, Beach car park could be closed for good as cars keep getting stuck, Plans to replace hospital with over-55s homes and care home, A planning application for a 52-bed care home, new homes for the over 55s and specialist care unit will go before Cornwall Council's west planning committee next week, Orbital, Bloc Party and Aurora to headline Cornish festival, Other acts include Billy Nomates, a Hong Kong Ping Pong takeover, The Mystery Jets and loads more, Cornwall funeral notices and tributes to people who have died, Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost, Man in hospital after emergency police and ambulance response, Eyewitnesses reported seeing several vehicles at the scene, Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll in Cornwall have never been so good, Hilarious 1980s rock musical needs to be seen in Truro this week, Cornish restaurant is now officially one of the UK's best, St Piran's Day 2023 in Cornwall: Where and when to celebrate, The celebrations will be held all across the county in the lead up to and on Sunday (March 5), Laxatives to be dumped in Cornish bay to fight climate change, Magnesium hydroxide is seen as a way to change the alkalinity of the ocean and help capture more CO2. 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