A scientist specializing in marine studies who was researching the movements of sharks was viciously attacked by a 9-foot Galápagos shark while diving more than 100 feet underwater on Saturday.
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos, aged 48 and leading the conservation group Pelagios Kakunjá based in Mexico, sustained 27 injuries during the intense underwater encounter. The New York Times reported that he had a wound for each of the shark’s teeth that pierced his jaw and face through his diving mask.
Speaking from a hospital in Costa Rica, Hoyos recalled the harrowing incident, stating, “My entire head was inside her mouth in less than a second. If she had wanted to, she could have ended my life.”
Hoyos and his team collaborated with the charity organization Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation to embark on a research expedition on September 20 to explore the underwater mountain ridge near Cocos Island, located over 400 miles from Costa Rica.
Their mission was to assess the level of protection needed by sharks in the area due to commercial fishing activities, as reported by the Mirror US.
During the expedition’s sixth day, Hoyos equipped himself with diving gear and a pole spear, descending to a depth of 123 feet. Shortly after, he encountered the 9-foot female shark, tagging it with his pole spear by hitting its dorsal fin. In response, the shark swiftly moved towards him and opened its jaws.
Describing the intense moment to The Times, Hoyos explained, “She turned towards me sideways very quickly; her mouth was wide open, and my entire head was inside her mouth in less than a second.”
He noted hearing a cracking sound but clarified that it was merely pressure. Hoyos added, “As soon as she felt my skull, she released me and swam away.”
With his scuba mask filled with a mix of blood and water and his air hoses severed by the shark’s teeth, Hoyos began a slow ascent to the surface, ensuring a careful decompression process. Despite the chaos, he sensed the shark retreating.
“I saw her shadow twice in front of me,” he recounted. “If she had wanted to, she could have ended my life.”
Upon reaching the surface, he felt faint, and his team promptly transported him to Cocos Island for medical treatment before transferring him to a mainland hospital.
Currently awaiting surgery for the 27 injuries on his jaw, face, and scalp, Hoyos’ calm and informed response to the attack impressed Dr. Alex Antoniou, Fins Attached’s director.
Hoyos speculated that the shark’s reaction was defensive, suggesting that the shark may have been startled by the tagging process and viewed it as an intrusion into her personal space.
“It was a defensive bite. She wanted me to keep my distance from her territory,” Hoyos explained. “She was also scared. It was not her fault.”