Shark Bitesโ Swimmer in Frenchโฃ Polynesia’s Ua Pou Island
Ua Pou,Marquesas Islands,French polynesia – November 10,2025,08:57 CET โ- A forty-year-old dentist was seriously injured Thursday when bitten by a shark โwhile swimming inโ Hakahau Bay on โthe island of โฃUa Pou. The man, whose name โhas notโ been released, sustainedโค a deep bite to his bicep and was medically evacuated by helicopter to Nuku โHiva for treatment. His life is not currently in danger.
While shark โencounters are notโ uncommon in the waters surrounding French Polynesia, serious โคbites are rare, especially โคin Ua Pou. This incident, coupled with a similar attack in July on a seven-year-old childโฃ in โNuku Hiva, raises concerns about potential increases in shark activity and โthe safety of โswimmersโ and water sports enthusiasts in the region. Authorities have not yet โขidentified the species of shark involved in Thursday’sโฃ attack.
According to Tahia Ah-Lo,โ a health professional on Ua Pou, โthe swimmer remained remarkably calm despite the severity of his injury. “He was not in shock, he knew it was serious but heโฃ controlled his emotions and his โขanxiety,” Ah-Lo told AFP. The man wasโ initially assisted byโ fellow swimmers before being airlifted โฃto Nuku Hiva,โข whichโข has a โขhospital equipped to handle the injury.
Ah-Lo,โ a nurse with 38 years of experience on the island, noted โขthat the last shark bite in Ua Pou occurred approximately fifteen years ago, involving a surfer. The July incident in Nuku Hiva involved a child bitten on the arm andโ leg โขwhile swimming near โan area where fishermenโข dispose of fish waste, suggesting a possible link between feeding practices and โshark encounters.
french Polynesia is a popular destination for diving, snorkeling, and other water activities. The islandsโ are โhome to a diverse range of shark species, including blacktipโ reef sharks,โข grey reef sharks, and tiger sharks. Local officials are expected to review safety protocols and potentially issue advisories toโ swimmers and beachgoers in light of thes recent incidents.
