Swimmer feared dead after shark attack just metres from beach

The man was seen flailing in the water and screaming for help in graphic footage filmed by a witness

A swimmer is missing and feared dead after at least one shark mauled him just off a beach in Israel.

The man was, who was just a few metres from the shore, reportedly heard screaming for help and was seen thrashing in the water moments before the water around him turned red in Hadera.

Footage believed to have been taken not much earlier appeared to show a dusky shark swimming past terrified beachgoers where the water was shallow enough to only go up to their thighs.

Local authorities were quickly alerted to the attack and launched rescue efforts, but the man had still not been located hours later.

Dusky and sandbar sharks are known to frequent the area at this time of year but are not known to attack humans and.

Experts say the animals are attracted by hot seawater pumped out of a nearby power plant after it is used for the plant’s cooling systems.

An Israeli environmental organisation said the sharks likely feel threatened by the large number of fishing vessels, divers, surfers, snorkelers and swimmers in the area.

‘Every winter, a unique phenomenon occurs in Israel, in which sharks and rays gather at the outlet of the warm waters of the power stations,’ the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel said in a statement.

‘In the case of such a fascinating and public-attracting phenomenon, it would be appropriate to take conservation and safety measures for the public, but over the years, chaos has developed in the area.’

Israeli marine biologist Dr. Adi Barash told the Ynet news site after the incident: ‘In addition to the fact that the conditions of the sea, including the depth and currents in the water, were not suitable for swimming, a large number of people came to the area, which created gatherings around the sharks — something that should not happen and could lead to attacks.’

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