Doctor Killed in Brutal Shark Attack in South Pacific Holiday Resort

A 55-year-old doctor has been killed in a suspected shark attack in New Caledonia while on vacation with his family, The Sun reports.

The yet-unnamed holidaygoer was reportedly windsurfing on a busy beach in the South Pacific resort when he was seen fighting with a creature in the ocean and sustained major injuries to his arms and legs that proved to be fatal.

The man's body was reportedly found in a nearby lagoon, where sailors discovered him on Sunday afternoon. He was confirmed dead by medics shortly afterwards, with officials agreeing that his wounds were consistent with a shark attack.

An autopsy is currently underway to determine the victim's cause of death.

Local Officials Comment on The Suspected Attack

"A man lost his life after a shark attack, in the area of the Château Royal beach, in Nouméa," said the Nouvelle-Caladonie Prevention Requin on social media. The site is known for its frequent shark presence, and tourists are regularly warned to stay vigilant and report any sightings.

"Avoid swimming at certain times of day," writes New Caledonia's travel and tourism website, "such as dawn, dusk, or after heavy rainfall, when water visibility is low and sharks are more likely to be hunting.” Visitors are warned not to take part in water sports alone, as the extreme movements can attract sharks to the area.

A similar incident took place in 2023, when a 59-year-old Australian man was brutally attacked by a shark and died after sustaining arm and leg wounds. This incident was caught on CCTV, and helped raise awareness of unpredictable shark attacks in the New Caladonia region.