🚨 BREAKING NEWS — AUTHORITIES SPEAK OUT AFTER 12-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN BOY IS ATTACKED BY SHARK WHILE SWIMMING WITH HIS BROTHER IN THE BAHAMAS — NEW DETAILS EMERGE
The boy was treated for his injuries and was listed in stable condition, authorities said.
Aerial view of the a narrow channel where a boat is anchored between islands, and the beautiful sandy bottom and green water contours of the Exuma in the Bahamas
Credit: Getty
A 12-year-old American boy was injured after being attacked by a shark in the Bahamas, authorities said.
The incident happened on Tuesday, June 23, in Staniel Cay, Exuma, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a news release.
The victim’s mother told police her son was swimming with his brother during a tour of an area in the Exuma Cays when the incident unfolded, officials said.
The police added that the boy, whose has not been identified, was treated for his injuries and was listed in stable condition.
The Exumas is a chain of 365 islands that the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has described as “home to secluded footprint-free beaches” and “ultra-exclusive resorts.” Among the popular activities in the cays are swimming and snorkeling.
The Bahamas are ranked ninth in the International Shark Attack File’s list of confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1580 with a total of 29. Still, that pales in comparison to the U.S., which leads the list with 1,441.
The country is home to over 40 different species of shark, according to the Pew Environmental Group.
American visitors have previously experienced shark attacks in the Bahamas. On Aug. 16, 2025, Eddie Jarmakowicz, 52, of Riviera Beach, Fla., was spearfishing in the Grand Cay when a six-foot shark bit him, ABC affiliate WPBF reported.
He was fishing and snorkeling in approximately 20 to 25 feet of water when the attack happened, leaving him with serious injuries to his left hand, according to ABC affiliate WPBF, CBS affiliate WPEC and WSVN. Jarmakowicz was discharged from the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery that lasted over four hours.
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The following day, authorities were summoned to the scene of a shark attack near Big Grand Cay on the island of Abaco, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement at the time. Earlier reports indicated that an unidentified American man, 63, was also spearfishing when the shark attacked him.
The victim, whom authorities said sustained “severe injuries”, was transported to a local clinic and later airlifted to the U.S. for medical treatment.
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