A 10-year-old boy has been attacked by a shark whilst at a luxury holiday resort in the Bahamas, local authorities have confirmed.
The child from Maryland was bitten on the right leg by the creature “while participating in an expedition in a Shark Tank at a local resort on Paradise Island”, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.
Witnesses say they saw a “pool of blood” forming in the water at around 4pm local time on Monday.
The boy was then transported to hospital and is currently in "stable condition" as he recovers from his injuries.
Visitors can interact with Caribbean reef sharks at the expedition
Flickr
Local police have launched an investigation into the incident.
They did not name the resort; however, the Atlantis Paradise Island offers shark experiences on-site.
The attraction at the popular Atlantis Resort offers a “walk with the sharks adventure”, according to their website which has since been taken down.
Participants do not need to know how to swim and can come into close proximity with sharks in a designated pool.
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Visitors don wetsuits and modified diving gear to walk underwater and interact with the sea creatures.
Publicity photos on the Atlantis website reads: “Using state-of-the-art clear glass helmets, resort guests can walk on the bottom of the shark exhibit and find themselves nose-to-nose with the guardians of the lost world of Atlantis. No swimming experience necessary.”
A witness who saw the attack said: “Once the little boy came down it took a dark turn. We saw the shark just homing in on him and then just a pool of blood afterwards.”
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement: “A 10-year-old male child from Maryland, USA, was reportedly bitten by a shark shortly before 4pm on Monday.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the boy was bitten on the right leg by a shark while participating in an expedition in a shark tank at a local resort.
Earlier this month, Jason Carter was killed by a shark in Hawaii
Facebook“He was transported to the hospital for medical attention and is currently in a stable condition. Investigations are ongoing into this incident”.
Blue Adventures by Stuart Cove, which operated the experience, said that they are “deeply saddened” that "a child suffered a shark bite during their in-water experience.”
“We have begun a thorough internal investigation and are fully cooperating with the authorities,” Stuard Cove said in the statement obtained by ABC News.
“Incidents like this involving interactions with marine life, even with the species of sharks included in this experience, are rare and never acceptable.”
Earlier this month, a surfer was killed by a shark off the coast of Hawaii.
Jason Carter, 39, was in the water during “mixed” water conditions due to high surf when the incident took place.
A witness to the fatal attack told NBC that he recalled the shark being the size of a pick-up truck.
