Shark attack in Bahamas: Two American tourists injured in Bimini Bay
Bimini, Bahamas — Two American tourists were injured, one critically, in a suspected shark attack while swimming in the waters of Bimini Bay, the Royal Bahamas Police Force reported. The incident occurred on Friday, February 7, at approximately 6:30 p.m.
According to police reports, the two women, both U.S. residents, sustained injuries to their lower bodies while swimming in the popular tourist destination. They were initially treated at a local clinic before being airlifted to a hospital in New Providence for further medical attention.
“Initial reports indicate that the victims, both U.S. residents, sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay,” stated the Royal Bahamas Police Force, according to a USA Today report.
Both women have since returned to the United States, Bahamian officials confirmed. The incident remains under investigation.
Shark Attacks in the Bahamas
Although shark attacks are rare, the Bahamas has recorded 34 unprovoked incidents since 1580, according to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File. This places the country ninth on the global list for shark attacks, following the United States (1,640), Australia (706), and South Africa (262).
In December 2023, a 44-year-old woman from Boston was fatally attacked by a shark while paddleboarding with a family member near a Sandals resort.
In January 2024, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland was hospitalized after being bitten on his right leg during a shark tank expedition at a Bahamian resort.
According to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2023. Of those, only one was fatal — the attack on the Massachusetts woman in the Bahamas.
