Tourism chief calls shark bite ‘unfortunate’, Atlantis silent

ATLANTIS representatives did not respond to questions before press time yesterday after a ten-year-old American boy was bitten by a shark at the resort.

Tourism Director Latia Duncombe said the incident was “unfortunate”, but further details were not available.

Police said the ten-year-old Maryland boy was participating in an expedition in a “shark tank at a local resort on Paradise Island” when the incident happened.

Atlantis offers a snorkelling programme where people can swim alongside sharks and other animals.

NBC News reported yesterday that Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said: “I’m a police officer on the island, and I have never been over to the aquarium that they’re referring to. As for how it’s set up, you’ll have to speak to personnel at the resort.”

The shark attack comes amid increased attention to such incidents.

Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president Robert Sands said in December that a task force would examine watersports and beach activity concerns after a shark killed an American woman in waters near the Sandals resort that month.

Comments

mandela says...

The problem is these companies that has certain activities geared towards tourism don't require or have simulation exercises regularly of senerios of what can happen and what to do, far to often the staff is bewildered, lost, and don't know what to do and the guests are left to deal with the situation. This is yet another such situation. The blue lagoon had to stop for investigation, has Atlantis continue with their program as if nothing happened or are they also under investigation?

Posted 17 January 2024, 11:27 a.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

If people voluntarily take part in high-risk activities, including close encounters with dangerous animals, then they have to accept the inherent risk associated with these activities where the hunter can very soon become the hunted. Imagine trying to pat a wild lion or a rattle snake.

Posted 17 January 2024, 1:21 p.m. Suggest removal

stillwaters says...

Cold -blooded creatures cannot love people like warm -blooded puppies or kittens.

Posted 17 January 2024, 2 p.m. Suggest removal

bahamianson says...

Need to stop any shark tank interaction with people . Need to stop and diving interaction with sharks. This news is all over the american news cycle.

Posted 17 January 2024, 3:22 p.m. Suggest removal

bahamianson says...

Come to the bahamas where you can have the experience of swallowing knives. Swallow at your own risk, but you get to twll people you did it. Just great!!

Posted 17 January 2024, 3:24 p.m. Suggest removal

rosiepi says...

So is it true that the RBPF is not investigating this incident?

Posted 17 January 2024, 5:07 p.m. Suggest removal

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