A 57-year-old man was fatally attacked by a shark on Sunday at midday, while swimming off an islet in Noumea in New Caledonia, civil security said.
According to the first information available, the victim is a boater who was swimming near his boat, anchored off the Maitre islet, in Nouméa.
“According to witnesses, the man was bitten in the leg by a shark of about 4 meters.
He had died on arrival of the assistance dispatched by helicopter, indicates an agent of the civil security.
According to the site Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes, he allegedly had his leg torn off and died of cardiac arrest.
Swimming prohibited until Monday
Twenty minutes from Nouméa, the Îlot Maitre, which hosts hotels, restaurants and water sports, is very busy on weekends.
The attack took place a few tens of meters from the seaside, which was evacuated by firefighters.
The town hall of Nouméa has issued a decree prohibiting swimming and nautical activities in the strip of coastline of 300 meters around the islet until Monday inclusive.
The other beaches have not been closed but the municipality called on bathers "to be very vigilant".
