Mexican marine biologist critically injured in shark assault off Costa Rica

[ad_1] A Mexican marine biologist was critically injured after he was attacked by a shark whereas working off Costa Rica's Pacific coast and transferred to a hospital within the nation's capital on Monday, authorities stated.

Costa Rica's Fireplace Division stated it had rescued 48-year-old Mauricio Hoyos from the assault Saturday and carried him on a 36-hour journey from Cocos Island, round 340 miles off the coast. Regardless of the intense accidents to his head, face and arms, Hoyos arrived on the hospital in secure situation.

"He was tagging species for monitoring and when he tagged one of many island's shark species, the shark turned," stated Luis Fernández, a doctor with the hearth division. "It was about 4 meters lengthy with an unlimited chew pressure — it turned and bit him on the top."

Hoyos was main a scientific expedition as a part of the One Ocean Worldwide Coalition, a collaborative initiative that features the organizations Fins Hooked up, For the Oceans Basis, Reserva Tortuga and the Rob Stewart Sharkwater Basis.

"Incidents like this are extraordinarily uncommon," Alex Antoniou, govt director of Fins Hooked up, stated on social media. "Dr. Hoyos is a unprecedented scientist who has devoted his profession to shark conservation, and we're deeply grateful for the help of the Cocos Island group on this very tough time."

Cocos Island is a Costa Rican nationwide park and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 1997. It's famend for its nice variety of species, significantly sharks.

In 2017, an American woman was killed after being mauled by a feminine tiger shark close to the island. Her dive information was additionally critically injured within the assault. Authorities on the time stated it was the primary assault of its type close to the nationwide park.

In line with Costa Rica's Ministry of Surroundings and Power, there are about 14 species of sharks — together with whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks — inhabiting the world, making it a preferred spot for divers.