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Photo: Coast Guard and divers take care of injured girl
A 15-year-old tourist from the United States was bitten on the leg by a shark, but officials were tight-lipped about the circumstances of the incident.
By Charles Gladden
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Wednesday, August 7, 2024
On Tuesday, August 6, an American girl visiting the United States was attacked by a shark in the waters between Belize’s Hot Island and Half Moon Island.
The Belize Coast Guard reported that the attack occurred around 11:30 a.m. and that the victim was 15-year-old Sofia Carlson, who had just finished a dive with Belize Professional Diving in San Pedro Town. The captain reportedly said Carlson was attacked when she entered the water again after a dive.
The ship’s crew and passengers quickly made their way to the Coast Guard Forward Operating Base (FOB) on Calabash Island. From there, Coast Guard members and Tenev Atoll Sustainable Development Association (TASA) staff provided medical assistance and support to the remaining guests.
Carlson, her mother and a dive guide were then airlifted to Belize Medical Partners Hospital in Belize City.
Amandala contacted Belize Dive Experts to find out if the victim was wearing scuba gear when he reentered the water and asked several other questions. However, they were tight-lipped on the matter and referred our questions to the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).
Attempts to contact the BTB were unsuccessful, but San Pedro Town District Representative Andre Perez assured reporters that this was an isolated incident.
“It’s an unfortunate situation. I would say this is probably the first time we have recorded an attack of this type as happened yesterday. We are saddened by this but I would like to stress that this is very rare and I don’t think it’s the time to say we won’t go swimming again. There must be other reasons for what happened but it’s too early to say,” he said.
Minister Perez said everyone handled the situation well, aside from some media outlets sharing disturbing images of the victim’s leg injuries and the victim strapped to a trauma board via social media.
“I think it’s important for the media to have responsibility because we’re talking about a family that is hurting right now and you don’t want to bring them further hurt. I think it’s a disservice. I stand here and condemn in the strongest possible terms the sharing of all these images with no regard for the feelings of others,” the minister continued.
While the severity of Carlson’s leg injury has not yet been determined, Minister Perez stressed that such incidents are rare.
“It’s nothing, I believe there’s nothing to worry about, to be scared of or anything like that. We’re safe. Something happened, but it’s a very isolated case. I’ve always believed it was a very isolated case,” he said.
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