What started as a peaceful day by the beach in Tela, Honduras, quickly turned into chaos when a farmer found himself in a life-or-death struggle with a shark.
Roberto Bu, 38, had joined a group of family and friends on a casual stop by the shore after inspecting crops nearby.
While everyone was enjoying a swim near a dock, things took a dramatic turn.
Terrifying Shark Attack
According to local reports, Bu was suddenly attacked by a shark while swimming.
His friend, Lizette Arita, initially thought he was joking, but her laughter turned to panic when she saw the reality of the situation unfold.
“We were playing on the beach, and then a wave hit. He started screaming for help,” she recalled.
Bu was fighting off the shark with all his might. “We saw its black fin—it was huge,” Arita said, describing the frantic moment.
With her family shouting to retreat, they ran for safety as Bu wrestled with the massive predator.
Locals Take Revenge on the Shark
After the attack, Bu was rushed to Tela Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for severe injuries to his back and thigh.
Despite losing a lot of blood, doctors were able to stabilize him.
Dr. Zulmy López, an assistant director at the hospital, said, “He’s out of danger now, but he’ll need more surgery due to muscle loss.”
While Bu recovered, locals took matters into their own hands.
Video footage showed a group tracking down the shark, capturing it with a line, and beating it with a wooden club in retaliation for the attack.
Shark Attacks in Honduras
The incident in Tela marks the second shark attack in the area in less than a month.
Just weeks earlier, 33-year-old Fernando Mendoza was also attacked while shellfishing in Puerto Castillo, Colón.
He barely survived after being bitten on the leg and knee.
Both men were fortunate to escape with their lives, but the sudden spike in attacks has left the community on edge.
Experts Weigh In: Sharks Don’t Target Humans
Despite the back-to-back incidents, marine biologist Gabriella Ochoa assured the public that sharks are not seeking out humans as prey.
“Sharks don’t eat people. We’re not part of their diet,” Ochoa explained, noting that their natural diet consists of fish, mollusks, and turtles.
Although rare, these attacks have served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the ocean.