The final words of a man who was attacked and killed by a shark in Northern Israel have been revealed.
The tragic incident occurred at Hadera Beach on Monday (April 21), as many people were enjoying the 27°C temperatures in that part of Israel.
Onlookers saw a man struggling in the water near the Orot Rabin power station, a scene that quickly turned into a pool of red.
A frantic search and rescue operation was launched shortly after the horrific incident was reported, with the Coastal Department for the area confirming that officers were patrolling in an effort to recover the victim’s body.
Cmdr. Aryeh Doron, a spokesperson for the Israeli police, issued an initial statement on Monday.
The last words of the man who was attacked by a shark have been revealed (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
“We will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. We urge the public in the area to avoid entering the water and coming into contact with the sharks,” Doron stated.
Panicked onlookers called emergency services while witnessing the attack, with one witness recalling hearing the man scream “help” and “they’re biting me” before he disappeared from view.
“There’s someone here who’s been bitten by a shark. He’s screaming, ‘Help!’ He’s in the sea at Hadera. He’s drowning,” another beachgoer told emergency services.
“He’s in the sea. No one’s coming to save him,” the onlooker added.
And in one chilling recording of the incident, one man was reacting live to the incident, telling viewers: “Wow, wow, he’s with the shark, he’s fighting him.”
An extensive search operation was launched following the attack on Hadera beach (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
A later update on Tuesday (April 22) confirmed that a body had been discovered.
“We are now on the second day of searches and are utilizing every available resource. The police commissioner has instructed all forces to assist. Several items have been sent for testing, and we are awaiting the results,” Cmdr. Aryeh Doron stated.
“We are dedicated to doing everything we can to bring closure to the family and will continue our efforts until the missing man is found,” Doron added.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has since issued a warning to beachgoers along its Mediterranean coast.
“The Authority reiterates its warning to avoid interacting with sharks and urges the public to refrain from approaching them, as they are protected animals,” the Israeli government agency stated.
