Octogenarian visitor bitten by barracuda off 7MB
(CNS): A female visitor who is understood to be in her 80s was bitten on her arm by a barracuda on Monday as she swam off Seven Mile Beach close to the Colonial Club Condos. The Department of Environment said on a Facebook post woman that was taken to hospital as a result of the bite.
The Conservation Officer who responded to the report of the not-so-pleasant wildlife encounter said he had noticed several schools of sprats and some feeding activity in the water at the location where the woman was bitten.
The DoE is urging anyone in the water to pay attention and be aware of small baitfish in schools, noting that when you see fish jumping out of the water, it is an indication of larger fish feeding nearby.
The experts explained that while feeding, fish such as barracuda can be distracted by the light reflecting on jewellery that swimmers might be wearing and take a bite towards it thinking it’s lunch.
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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
The water was slightly murky that day and it is always dangerous to swim when the water is like that. There are lots of barracudas along 7 Mile Beach and I doubt that the ordinary person looking at the water will notice sprats in that kind of water. A good rule to follow is to swim only in clear water.
blame the government and the stupid covid rules !! if we had more tourists the fish would stay away but because we have none they get closer and closer to the shore.
sue the government
Mom’s back to make it all right again. Nature always finds a way.
OMG. Grow up.
That’s so sad. But hey freedom of speech.
Everyone on here turning into professional Capt’n Obvious.
Just go ahead and repeat what te conservation officer said…
Wow, can just imagine if the victim was a male flashing his Crown Jewels, yikes!
And people standing in feeding zones.
The Barracuda owns that territory. Till he is Sunday’s beach BBQ.
This is extremely rare, the only adverse incident I can recall on West Bay Beach is someone getting stung when they trod on a small sting ray in the shallows which had covered itself in sand as they are wont to do.
You forget the triathlon athlete who got stung by a box jelly off Royal Palms and ended up in hospital.
Nobody likes revealing their age.. Would perception be different if the person was 25 or 40? I hope the visitor recovers fast and fully.
Person was in their 80’s but yea samething i say, i’ve seen these fish do some damage and very fast too.
Barracudas are thought to also be attracted to the shimmer of bracelets etc.
Yup. And fluorescent swimwear.
Whoever teaching them need to stop!
They want that bling bling