Snorkeller 'bitten by shark' when on organised trip off Cornwall
Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked to meet a casualty with a suspected leg injury
Last updated 2nd Aug 2022
A snorkeller has reportedly sustained a leg injury following a suspected shark bite off the coast of Cornwall.
HM Coastguard scrambled its Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team to meet the casualty on Thursday 28th July.
They had been part of an organised trip through Blue Shark Snorkel Trips who, in a post on Facebook, confirmed 'we have had an incident'.
HM Coastguard issued the following statement: "HM Coastguard sent Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team to meet a snorkeller who suffered a suspected shark bite.
"The coastguard was notified just before 12.30pm on Thursday (July 28). It is believed the swimmer suffered a leg injury.
"The coastguard team met the casualty at Penzance harbour to assist with passing them into the care of the ambulance service".
Blue Shark Snorkel Trips stated: "These occurrences are extremely rare and can be easily misunderstood so we want this to be dealt with as sensibly as possible.
"As we know, these things can happen when we choose to interact with wild animals in their own environment. The last thing we want is to let speculation drive the media into a world of bad press for the sharks, under no fault of their own.
"We immediately enacted our emergency response plan, with first aid being carried out on the person involved. Following advice and assessment from the coastguard, the person walked off the boat and received further treatment ashore".
"A very scary incident"
The post also included a statement from the person involved, who said: "I just wanted to say that despite how the trip ended, it was amazing to see such majestic creatures in the wild and I don't for a second want this freak event to tarnish the reputation of an already persecuted species.
"(I) wanted to thank everyone for their amazing actions. What was a very scary incident was made so much easier by the kindness and calmness of the people around me.
"Thank you to the trip team for getting me back to shore quickly and carefully and making me feel as safe as I possibly could.
"We all take these risks when we enter the habitat of a predator and we can never completely predict the reactions of a wild animal".
Blue Shark Snorkel Trips then added: "We've tried to understand why it happened and are in continued talks with shark experts.
What do we know about blue sharks?
According to British Sea Fishing the blue shark - scientific name Prionace Glauca - can grow up to 13ft, however the typical size of those found in UK waters is 5-8ft.
Its website describes blue sharks as having a sleek body with large eyes and pointed snout. "Pectoral fins are long, as is the tailfin. The dorsal fin is relatively small. The body is dark blue on the back, blending to a lighter blue on the flanks and white to grey on the belly. The mouth has two rows of serrated teeth, with additional rows behind".
It continues: "Blue shark can be either solitary or form into small groups. They are nomadic and cover great distances as they migrate around the world. Blue sharks are thought to use the gulf stream and Atlantic gyres in order to conserve energy as they travel through the seas.
"In British waters they are generally found in the slightly warmer water of the south west of England and Ireland, although they can turn up elsewhere and have been sighted to the north of the British Isles".
British Sea Fishing says while blue shark attacks on humans have been recorded in the past, they are "extremely rare".
Several species are spotted in the Duchy every year, including blues, porbeagles and basking sharks.