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New Caledonia archipelago in the South Pacific (symbolic image)
Photo: Abi Rached Elise / EyeEm / Getty Images / EyeEm
A 57-year-old man has died in New Caledonia after a shark attack.
The hobby sailor, who anchored off the island of Maître, was attacked by the animal while swimming near his boat.
This was announced by the authorities of the French overseas territory in the South Pacific.
The shark attacked the man only a few meters from the beach.
The 57-year-old died before the rescue helicopter arrived.
The beach has been cleared.
The broadcaster Franceinfo reports that the man was injured in the leg.
He died as a result of a cardiac arrest.
It is unclear what kind of shark it was.
Shortly after the incident, a comparatively small bull shark was observed.
However, a tiger shark has also been sighted in the past few days, the animals can be over five meters tall.
The island of Maître is located about 20 minutes from the main New Caledonian island and is a popular destination.
In 2019, a fisherman in the archipelago east of Australia was killed by a bull shark, a few days after a boy lost a leg in another shark attack.
"There are really only two factors that are important when you are bitten by a shark: where it bites you and how quickly you can get help."
Culum Brown, marine biologist
In Australia, eight people died in a shark attack last year.
For the past five decades, the country has seen an average of one fatal attack per year - and none at all in 2019.
Experts explained the high number as follows: "There are really only two factors that are important when you are bitten by a shark: where it bites you and how quickly you can get help," said marine biologist Culum Brown.
2020 was a lot of bad luck in both points.
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jpz / dpa
