Chilling last words of swimmer attacked by shark as he screamed ‘help’

A man was attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast of north-west Israel, with witnesses saying he was screaming “help” and “they’re biting me” before he disappeared from sight

A witness to the terrifying shark attack off Israel’s north-west coast recounted the victim’s desperate cries for help, shouting “help” and “they’re biting me” before vanishing from view.

The swimmer was seen struggling in the water, which soon turned a ghastly red, presumed to be his blood, near the Orot Rabin power station by Hadera.

The shark had been lurking in shallow waters close to other beachgoers at Olga Beach, including children, when it launched its attack on the man.

One beachgoer urgently reported to emergency services: “There’s someone here that a shark has bitten. He’s screaming, ‘Help!’ He’s in the sea at Hadera. He’s drowning.”

She continued with a chilling account: “He’s in the sea. Nobody’s coming to save him.” When the operator inquired, “Do you still see the man?” and “Do you have eye contact with him.”

she replied, “No, I can’t see him.”

Another beachgoer described how the man yelled, “They’re biting me,” flailing his arms before being pulled further out to sea by the sharks.

In one video captured on a mobile phone, an onlooker exclaimed, “Wow, wow, he’s with the shark, he’s fighting him,” as the swimmer was spotted in the distance. “They’re eating him, eating the man… Can’t see him.”

Emergency responders are now scouring the area for the missing man, and the beach has been shut down.

Israeli reports also indicate that the shark attacked a rescue diver who was part of the search effort for the man. The Hadera municipality’s Coastal Department announced they are conducting jet ski searches to find the male swimmer.

The belongings of a man were discovered on the beach, leading to an alarming incident reported by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The authority confirmed that the event occurred in a section of the beach where swimming is already banned, issuing a statement: “The Authority reiterates its warning against interacting with sharks and once again calls on the public to avoid approaching them, as they are protected animals.”

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A police spokesperson detailed the emergency response: “A short time ago, police officers from the Hadera station were dispatched following a report from citizens who claimed to have seen a shark attacking a diver in the water.”

The spokesperson added, “We will continue to update according to developments. We call on the public travelling in the area to avoid entering the water and coming into contact with the sharks.”

It’s noted that dusky and sandbar sharks, common visitors to the region from November to May, are typically not known for attacking humans.