The spouse of a Spanish physician who sustained life-threatening injuries from a shark attack during their Maldives honeymoon has criticized their tour company for what she terms “serious negligence.”
The attack reportedly occurred on Monday afternoon near the upscale Kooddoo Island. The couple had embarked on an excursion to snorkel close to a fish processing facility, a known hotspot for sharks in the archipelago.
Identified locally as Borja, a 31-year-old gynecologist from Alicante, the man was urgently transported to a hospital where doctors had to amputate his leg to save his life.
Both families have voiced their outrage over the excursion organizer’s perceived “recklessness.” Borja’s wife, identified by Spanish media as Ana, has formally lodged a grievance with Maldivian authorities, as reported by El Periodico Mediterraneo.
Recently wed, the couple from Alicante had chosen the idyllic Indian Ocean locale for their honeymoon getaway.
Following the incident, the Spanish tourist was first treated at GA. Atoll Hospital before being airlifted to Male, the bustling capital of the Maldives, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit at ADK Hospital.
The area where the attack happened is famous for its ‘Shark Alley’ diving site, where large schools of Spinner sharks are frequently spotted, although the involvement of a Bull shark has not been ruled out.
Local reports claim the Kooddoo facility had not dumped fish waste for around a week, with one source quoted as saying: ‘The sharks were likely in a heightened state of hunger and anticipation.
A tourist is fighting for his life after being attacked by a shark on his honeymoon in the Maldives (file image)
‘When the group jumped in, the entry itself may have triggered a predatory response.’
El Periodico Mediterraneo, quoting a source close to Ana’s family, said: ‘With one bite, it took all the flesh from the knee down off her husband’s leg.’
Relatives of Ana, who is said to be the daughter of a well-known Castellon businessman, have flown out to the Maldives to support her.
The family acquaintance told the Spanish daily paper: ‘They are trying to save Borja, he’s in intensive care, but the medical conditions there are very precarious.’
Kooddoo is home to a four-star hotel called the Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, which is a popular honeymoon destination and is on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll – known for its rich and diverse marine life.
The Mercure is the only resort on the island, but it is unclear whether the couple were staying at the hotel or if they were visiting Kooddoo for the day.
The resort offers several water-based activities, such as diving, sailing and paddle-boarding.
The Maldives is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, making it a desirable tourist destination.
But, as with any complex ecosystem, the remote islands are home to terrifying predators whose only instincts are to kill and devour.
The Maldives are home to 31 shark species, 29 of which are globally threatened.
But ever since diving in shark hotspots has become a popular tourist activity, the Maldives has seen its fair share of shark attacks.
Late last year, a 26-year-old Chinese woman was injured after reportedly chasing a shark in the Maldives to ‘play with it.’
The Maldives is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, making it a popular diving and snorkeling destination
She is said to have been on her period at the time and consulted professionals about diving while menstruating before being told it was safe.
The woman used a tampon and went into the water, but was attacked after seeing nurse sharks and chasing them to play. She was left with deep bite marks on her wrists.
Also last year, a dentist was bitten by a shark while on a luxury holiday to the Maldives.
Ekaterina Alexandrova, 30, from Moscow, was bitten in the hand when she was snorkelling with a friend.
She complained of ‘insane pain’ but was able to get back to her tour boat.
The attack was by normally docile nurse sharks after she was told an excursion was ‘safe’.
‘I got lucky – I pushed [the attacking shark] away with my left hand, and it didn’t manage to bite hard,’ she said.
‘Of course, I’ve had men tell me I’m a tasty pie and can make some, you know, bite,’ she said. ‘But I didn’t think I was on the lunch menu of sharks in the Maldives.
‘So it was certainly a shock and a huge surprise to me.’
The dentist was filmed shaking from shock in a clinic afterwards as she was given stitches for the gash in her skin.
Another Russian national was also mauled by a shark while snorkelling in the Maldives.
Influencer and singer Nastya Vitonova was swimming off the coast of the paradise islands when a shark sank its teeth into her hand.
Footage showed a tearful Vitonova on an organised tour boat just moments after the horrific attack, as her hand gushed with blood while members of the boat crew hurriedly poured water over her wound.
Vitonova was later transported to the nearest island, where she received medical treatment for her bite, but her injuries were not serious.
