What was supposed to be an adventurous day out on the water took a terrifying turn for one man off the coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
While enjoying the up-and-coming watersport of Downwind foiling—a kind of surfing that uses a hydrofoil board to glide above the waves—he found himself face-to-face with a shark.
Shark Strikes Off Fuerteventura’s Coast
The incident happened about two miles off the island’s western shores, an area that has seen its share of shark sightings over the years.
According to Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, the shark attacked the man’s board before biting him on the leg.
The channel aired shocking footage showing two deep gashes just below the man’s knee, with blood trailing down his leg.
How He Made It Back to Shore
Details on how the man managed to fend off the shark haven’t been released, but somehow, he made it back to land.
He reportedly reached the shore near Los Molinos—a remote and rugged hamlet perched between rocky cliffs.
The area is popular with both tourists and locals who are drawn to its wild coastline.
A History of Shark Warnings in the Area
Sharks aren’t completely unfamiliar to the waters around Fuerteventura.
On several occasions, local authorities have closed beaches when jet ski patrols spotted sharks swimming close to the shore.
Although these sightings typically don’t end in attacks, they’ve kept people on high alert.
A Tragic Reminder from the Past
This recent attack comes less than a year after a deadly incident involving a woman off the coast of Western Sahara.
In that case, a 30-year-old crew member aboard a British-flagged catamaran went for a swim and was fatally bitten by a shark.
Her leg was reportedly ripped off during the attack, which happened 278 miles southwest of Gran Canaria.
Despite being airlifted by a Spanish Air Force helicopter to a hospital in Las Palmas, she didn’t survive.
Shark Attacks Are Still Extremely Rare
Even though these stories are horrifying, shark attacks in the Canary Islands are incredibly rare.
Since records began, there have only been seven confirmed shark attacks on humans in the region—and none of them, until the Western Sahara incident, had ever been fatal.
What’s Next for Safety?
There’s no word yet on whether authorities will issue new warnings or restrictions following this latest encounter.
But with tourism booming and more people trying adventurous water sports, there’s likely to be renewed focus on marine safety around the islands.