Hadera shark attack: Swimmer feared dead after mauling in front of Israel beach sunbathers

A swimmer has been mauled and is feared dead in a shark attack in the Mediterranean Sea.

Footage posted to social media show a diver struggling in the water just off Hadera, north-west , in front of horrified crowds. Authorities are conducting a search, according to Magen David Adom emergency services and police have closed the beach until further notice.

Clips also show the shark swimming by paddlers in shallow water with some of the people horrified and rushing to shore while others appeared to be happy to stay and watch the predators. It was a short time later that a shark was seen attacking a swimmer.

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In disturbing footage the swimmer could be seen thrashing around for a moment before then suddenly the sea turns a red colour as he appeared to be bitten. People watched on in horror from the beach as fins and limbs splashed around but there was nothing that they could do.

Reports in Israel is also say that the shark attacked a rescue diver searching for the man while the Hadera municipality’s Coastal Department said it is carrying out searches by jet ski to locate the swimmer.

Footage uploaded to social media also shows helicopters scanning the waters for the missing man. The incident took place in an area of the beach where swimming was already prohibited.

Dusky and sandbar sharks, which frequent the area during the period November to May, are not known to normally attack humans. But in recent days sharks have been attracted to the shores of Hadera and Beit Yannai due to dead fish cast into the sea.

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