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A seven-year-old child was bitten and injured by a shark while swimming in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, the main island of the Marquesas archipelago, on Friday.
The fire department confirmed the incident to AFP on Saturday.
About 10 children were playing in the bay when a shark attacked one, causing long and deep wounds to the child’s arm and leg. A firefighter assisting the child remarked, “I’m 35 years old, and this is the first time I’ve seen this.”
Local reports suggest the incident may be linked to fish carcasses discarded by fishermen in the area, which is known to attract various shark species, including blacktips, hammerheads, and lemon sharks.
The injured child was initially taken to a local hospital before being airlifted approximately 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) to a hospital in Tahiti for further treatment.
Shark attacks are uncommon in French Polynesia, typically occurring when targeting underwater fishermen or individuals involved in the prohibited activity of shark feeding.
