Diver bitten on arm by 2-meter shark while spearfishing in Australia

A spearfishing diver suffered an arm injury after being bitten by a shark estimated to be over 2 meters long off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. The 31-year-old man was diving with two companions about 50 meters from the shore in Adventure Bay when the incident occurred Saturday morning. Authorities believe the shark was a sevengill shark. The injured diver was brought to shore by his companions and then airlifted to Royal Hobart Hospital. Police reported his condition as stable. A witness at the scene stated the diver was spearfishing and was bitten while retrieving a speared fish. The witness described the bite as "quite severe" but "not too serious," comparing the mark to that of a dog bite on the upper arm. The suspected sevengill shark is considered a top predator, reaching lengths of up to 3 meters and distinguished by seven gill slits instead of the usual five. These sharks typically inhabit depths up to 45 meters and are classified as dangerous in Australia, although attacks in the southern Australian states are rare, with only 15 recorded incidents historically, six of which were fatal. Shark researcher Chris Black noted that divers in Tasmania often encounter sevengill sharks without incident, describing them as curious animals that may circle divers. However, Black cautioned that they can become aggressive if there is prey in the water or if stimulated by factors like fish blood. The shark involved in Saturday's incident has not been sighted since.

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The bitten man was spearfishing and was bitten by a shark while he was trying to pull up the fish that was stuck on the spear.