latest injuries, deaths and sightings

A BRITISH man has died after he was attacked by a shark while training for a charity swim in Sydney.

Here The Sun looks at the latest injuries, deaths and sightings this year.

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How many shark attacks have there been this year?

As of February 16, there have been 9 shark attack bites in 2022.

Two of these were fatal, which included:

February 16 – Simon Nellist, 35, from Britain, was killed by a shark just 150m away from the beach at Buchan Point, near Little Bay in Sydney, in the first fatal attack in nearly 60 years.

He was mauled to death by a 15ft great white in an “incredibly rare” attack as he trained for a charity ocean swim.

February 12 – Victor Estrella was diving for scallops when he was attacked by a 13-foot shark about 10 miles off Yavaros, Sonora, Mexico.

His dive tender noticed the air hoses moving erratically and began pulling him up but as Estrella neared the surface, he saw a large shark.

By the time the tender was able to pull Estrella onto the boat, the shark had severed his leg and he died.

How many shark attacks were there in 2021?

As of December 25 here have been 81 shark attack bites in 2021 publicly reported and verified, according to Tracing Sharks.

There have nine fatal shark attacks, which included:

December 24 – Thomas Butterfield, 42, of Sacramento, had been boogieboarding in California when he was found Found dead in the water with a bite from suspected white shark.

November 6 – British dad, Paul Millachip, 57, was attacked while swimming at Port Beach near Perth, Australia and just his goggles were recovered.

September 5 – Dad-to-be Timothy Thompson, 31, died after the ferocious beast ripped his arm off in front of horrified onlookers off Emerald Beach in Coffs Harbour, Australia.

May 11 – A man in his 50s was killed after being attacked and suffering critical injuries to his upper right thigh in Tuncurry Beach in New South Wales.

April 13 – Robert Frauenstein, 38, who was due to be married the next month was body boarding alone when it was suspected he was attacked. His body was never recovered, but his board was found with teeth marks believed to be from a great white in Chintsa, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

April 24 – A 53-year-old paddle boarder was discovered by a fisherman with evidence of shark bites near a beach in Noumea, New Caledonia, Australia.

January 8 – 19-year-old Kaelah Marlow, from Hamilton, New Zealand died in a rare attack in Waihi Beach on North Island, the first fatality in the country since 2013.

Other none-fatal attacks this year have included when a swimmer fought off a massive shark that mauled his leg after he jumped into the water during a boat party, also lifeguards dragged a blood-soaked teenager out of the sea after he had his penis ripped off by a shark.

And an eight-foot shark sank its teeth into a spear fisherman’s leg and ripped open an artery in the US. And Australian medics described a man “lucky to be alive” after he was hauling himself back onto his boat via a ladder when the sea beast repeatedly sunk its powerful jaws into his left leg.

Are shark attacks on the rise?

Experts have warned the number of attacks will rise thanks to environmental initiatives to protect seals – a key part of a shark’s diet.

However, some people feel seals are now proving a real danger to humans as they are attracting record number of sharks closer to shore.

James Sulikowski, a researcher of Northeastern sharks based at Arizona State University, said: “They’re not looking for us. We’re not on the menu.

“But as these predator-prey relationships continue, and because they are so coastal, there’s potential for interaction with humans to increase.”

Robert Hueter, senior scientist and director at Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research, also warned swimmers to beware.

Sharks will follow their meal, he said adding wherever seals, dolphins and other prey go sharks will follow.

He said: “This is a natural predator-prey relationship going back eons.

“It’s not surprising that with a restored seal population we see the predator of the seal there.”

Shark attacks are very rare but marine biologists say swimmers should still avoid wearing dark clothing and should not swim alone.

Sharks are also far more under threat from humans than vice versa and every year millions are killed for or sport.

And nearly one in five shark species are said to be endangered or vulnerable.

Hueter said: “People should always remember that the ocean is a wild place. It’s like going for a walk in the deep woods and you have to know how to prevent encounters with bears.”