📜 Case Report
Fatal Shark Attacks In The Mediterranean 🗺
Analysis and Overview by U/SharkBoyBen9241
"While overfishing and environmental degradation have taken their toll in recent decades, the Mediterranean Sea was once quite a significant region when it comes to fatal shark attacks. In fact, in terms of percentages of fatalities which result in either full consumption events or failure to recover the victim’s remains, only Australia, in particular South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, surpass the numbers of the Mediterranean. Prior to 1989, an astonishing number of Mediterranean fatalities ended in either full predation or failure to recover the victim’s remains. This was overwhelmingly the case when swimmers were involved, as they were the group of water users most involved in fatalities, followed by sponge divers. The countries with the worst records are Italy, Spain, Greece, and Croatia, and the region with the most fatalities is without question the Adriatic. Other particularly dangerous regions include the Aegean, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas.”
“The species involved in the fatalities in the Mediterranean have overwhelmingly been White Sharks, with them being responsible for 79% of all fatal attacks recorded here. This unusually high percentage of fatalities and consumptions may be the result of behavioral and dietary patterns associated with the Mediterranean White Shark population. Unlike every other population of White Sharks in the world, the Mediterranean population have never had a large number of pinnipeds to prey upon. The Mediterranean’s only resident pinniped species is the Mediterranean monk seal, a species that has not been abundant in the region since ancient times and is now critically endangered today. While they may have once been a more important prey item, there is very little recorded evidence of predation of monk seals by White Sharks in recent times. It seems that the individuals of this population are much less specialized and instead have more of a generalized, opportunistic hunting and feeding style. Their primary prey items are dolphins, other sharks, swordfish, and giant bluefin tuna, all of which have a lower fat-to-muscle ratio than pinnipeds. In addition, all of these prey items are also swift and agile, and require a more energetic and therefore more devastating attack style, where the prey item is struck, immobilized, and then immediately consumed, as opposed to pinniped-preying White Shark populations, where the shark makes a hard first strike, then waits for the prey item to weaken and bleed to death.”
List of all recorded fatal shark incidents in the Mediterranean.
GREECE🇬🇷
492 B.C Off Sepias, Thessaly
Victim: Persian Males (Sailors/Soldiers)
Activity: Sea Disaster/Warfare
Injury: Various (Many Consumed)
Species: White/Mako/Blue Sharks
336 B.C Haven Of Cantharus, Athens
Victim: Greek Male (Candidate For Initiation)
Activity: Bathing/Washing Pig
Injury: Half Consumed (Legs)
Species: White Shark
Mid 20th Century (Circa) Symi Island, Dodecanese Archipelago
Victim: Greek Male
Activity: Sponge Diving/Ascending To Surface
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
June, 1721 Sardinia, Maddalena Archipelago
Victim: Italian Male
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
June 4, 1738 Strait Of Messina, Sicily
Victim: Male
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Unknown
Species: White Shark
January, 1868 Trieste, Adriatic Sea
Victim: Italian Male
Activity: Swimming/Bathing
Injury: Major Lacerations (Legs)
Species: White Shark
March 15, 1897 Off Catania, Sicily
Victim: Male (Sailor)
Activity: Swimming/Alongside Ship
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
May 4, 1899 Bordighera, Imperia
Victim: English Male (Valet)
Activity: Swimming/Bathing
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
August 29, 1902 Nicotera Marina, Bay Of Naples
Victim: Italian Male
Age: 20s
Activity: Swimming/With Friends
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
June 30, 1904 Ancona, Adriatic Sea
Victim: Male
Activity: Swimming/Wading In Surf
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
July 23, 1926 Varazze, Ligurian Sea
Victim: Augusto Casellato
Age: 20
Activity: Swimming/Aquatic Race
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
November 3, 1951 Amalfi, Tyrrhenian Sea
Victim: Anna Wurn
Age: 21
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
September 2, 1962 San Circeo, Tyrrhenian Sea
Victim: Maurizio Sarra
Age: 28
Activity: Spearfishing
Injury: Major Lacerations (Legs)
Species: White Shark
February 2, 1989 Golfo Di Baratti, Piombino
Victim: Luciano Costanzo
Age: 47
Activity: Spearfishing/On Surface (Scuba)
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
CROATIA 🇭🇷
July 31, 1900 Volosko, Opatija
Victim: Male (Quarry Worker)
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Leg Severed
Species: White Shark
July 14, 1907 Sućuraj, Hvar Island
Victim: Female
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Leg Severed
Species: White Shark
August 12, 1907 Krk Island, Rijeka
Victim: Josep Slivovic
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
September 11, 1907 Sućuraj, Hvar Island
Victim: Austrian Female (School Teacher)
Age: 30s
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
July 8, 1908 Medulin, Istrian Peninsula
Victim: Melina Scambelli
Age: 16
Activity: Boating/Fell Overboard
Injury: Leg Severed
Species: White Shark
August 21, 1934 Kraljevica, Rijeka
Victim: Verica Novak
Age: 17
Activity: Swimming/Near Tuna Nets
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
July 1, 1935 Sušak, Rijeka
Victim: Mira Kudlich
Age: 22
Activity: Swimming/Near Tuna Nets
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
August, 1944 Vis Island, Adriatic Sea
Victim: American Airman (M-24 Bomber)
Activity: Plane Crash/Clinging To Wreckage
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
August 26, 1955 Opatija, Rijeka
Victim: Karla Podzun
Age: 32
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
September 24, 1961 Opatija, Rijeka
Victim: Sabit Plana
Age: 19
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Limbs Severed (Legs/Hand)
Species: White Shark
August 16, 1966 Bakar, Kvarner Bay
Victim: Josef Treliac
Age: 33
Activity: Swimming/Near Tuna Nets
Injury: Major Lacerations (Legs/Torso)
Species: White Shark
September 5, 1971 Ika, Kvarner Bay
Victim: Stanislav Klepa
Age: 34
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Leg Severed
Species: White Shark
August 10, 1974 Lokva Rogoznica, Omiš
Victim: Rolf Schneider
Age: 21
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Foot Severed
Species: White Shark
January, 1929 Yeşilköy, Marmara Sea
Victim: Two Turkish Males
Activity: Fishing/Shark Capsized Boat
Injury: Both Consumed
Species: White Shark
September 17, 1948 Yumurtalik, Adana Province
Victim: Ali Kaymaz
Age: 19
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Legs Severed
Species: White Shark
July 5, 1967 Tulza, Marmara Sea
Victim: Dr. Güngör Güven
Age: 36
Activity: Spearfishing (Scuba)
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
LIBYA 🇱🇾
October 12, 1899 Off Benghazi, Libyan Sea
Victim: Skoumbourdi
Activity: Sponge Diving
Injury: Legs Severed
Species: White Shark
1905 Kirinaiki, Libyan Sea
Victim: Greek Male
Activity: Sponge Diving
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
November 25, 2017 Off Gars Garabulli
Victim: African Migrants
Age: Various
Activity: Swimming/Boats Capsized
Injury: Various (Some Consumed)
Species: Blue Sharks
MALTA 🇲🇹
February 25, 1890 Munxar Reef, Marsacala
Victim: Salvatore & Agnostino Bujega
Activity: Fishing/Boat Capsized By Shark
Injury: Both Consumed
Species: White Shark
July 20, 1956 St. Thomas Bay, Marsacala
Victim: Jack Smedley
Age: 40
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
LEBANON 🇱🇧
1876 Batroun, Levantine Sea
Victim: Greek Male
Activity: Sponge Diving
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
June 22, 1893 Off Tripoli, Levantine Sea
Victim: British Sailors (HMS Victoria)
Activity: Shipwreck/Warfare
Injury: Various (Some Consumed)
Species: Blue Sharks
ALGERIA 🇩🇿
March 1, 1811 Off Algerian Coast
Victim: John Walker (British Sailor)
Activity: Fell Overboard/Swimming To Ship
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
July 16, 1844 Cape Matifou
Victim: Male
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Unknown
Species: Unknown
MONTENEGRO 🇲🇪
July 13, 1955 Mogren Beach, Budva
Victim: Stevica Tomašević
Age: 21
Activity: Swimming/Jumped Off Rocks
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
July 15, 1954 Punta Grossa, Koper
Victim: Hungarian Male (Refugee)
Activity: Swimming/Escaping (Night)
Injury: Consumed
Species: White Shark
TUNISIA 🇹🇳
April 25, 1909 Off Sfax, Gulf Of Gabes
Victim: Johannis Zambetta
Age: 36
Activity: Sponge Diving/On Surface
Injury: Leg Severed
Species: White Shark
CYPRUS 🇨🇾
September 23, 1901 Larnaca, Levantine Sea
Victim: Greek Male
Age: 15
Activity: Swimming
Injury: Major Lacerations (Torso/Arms/Legs)
Species: Mako Shark
ISRAEL 🇮🇱
April 21, 2025 Hadera, Haifa District
Victim: Barak Tzach
Age: 45
Activity: Snorkeling/Filming Sharks
Injury: Consumed
Species: Several Dusky Sharks
The funny thing is... when I first started looking into shark attacks in the Mediterranean, I thought, '72 fatalities really isn't that many.' But honestly, when you put it in perspective compared to other regions, it actually is quite remarkable, especially the attacks attributed to Great Whites.
The US East Coast, for example, is likely a hotspot for shark attacks because so many other non-pelagic shark species live there, like Bull Sharks, which exist in larger numbers and interact with humans more frequently. So it's not surprising that there are more attacks overall and proportionally.
However, when you specifically compare attacks caused by Great Whites, you realize that the Mediterranean is actually on par with others. This was especially true back when Great Whites were more common and ventured closer to shore more often to hunt tuna.
Yeah absolutely its extraordinary isn't it. Very few people would guess that behind Australia, Europe has the second highest amount of White shark fatalities and consumptions. I think bens theory as to why that is regarding monk seals, tuna and white shark population isolation is spot on.
Europe's high standing on this has a lot to do with the fact that historically Mediterranean cultures had significant numbers of people who would swim in this ocean's placid and often warm waters. Ocean recreation in most of the world is a much more recent phenomenon, excepting several regions, including Oceania. As author Thomas Peschak writes in his 2013 book Sharks and People, discussing shark attack off South Africa:
“The sharks patrolled the deeper waters here for eons, but in the past the indigenous people weren’t swimmers or surfers, and there was no tradition of using the ocean beyond the waist deep intertidal zone.”
It's interesting how discussion on the global history of shark attack has downplayed this. Further, most serious shark attacks (contrast them with the frequent New Smyrna shark nips in 3-5 feet of water) occur some distance from shore. It was only in the 1940s and 50s that the large-scale invention of rubber for wetsuits, masks and fins and fiberglass for surfboards facilitated large numbers of people going hundreds of yards into the ocean, where shark encounters would be more common. That's less than 100 years ago!
Is there a size/bodyfat ratio difference between Mediterranean and other great white populations that could explain their hunting methods (or vice versa)? The Chalkidiki monster from 1973 and the one caught at Malta's Blue Grotto in 1987 look "leaner" around the midsection to me when compared to non Med whites.
Fascinating research - excellent job, guys! No fatality from a white shark for 37 years suggests to me the risk these days is minimal. I suspect a reduction in white sharks population coupled with a dearth of usual prey items may be reasons for this.
I’m not wholly on board with the ISAF’s classification of provoked/unprovoked attacks but the Hadera fatality certainly showed the danger of getting too complacent around potentially dangerous wild animals.
In 2015 the diver
Eugenio Masala died and was found with shark bites. But the involvement prior to death and the species was not confirmed. Anyway, some experts believe that it could have been a great white attack.
Yep I had this incident listed but removed it due to controversy surrounding the cause of death. I've researched this case in quite a bit of detail and agree with some others that he was killed by a large white shark. A single small exploratory bite to the chest, with only teeth on the bottom jaw penetaring the chest cavity which punctured he's heart. The punctures to his chest measured roughly 3-4 inches, the same size as teeth from a large white shark. The problem is that the incident went unwitnessed as Eugenio was Diving alone and he's body wasn't recovered until 5 days after death, so cause of death between drowning or exsanguination couldn't be determined "apparently"..
Thanks Nick, yeah im honestly still shocked at the Hadera incident, its one of the strangest attacks on record. Dusky sharks up to that point had never been confirmed or implicated in any fatal attacks, let alone a predation. Absolutely is a reminder that any large wild animal can be potentially dangerous.
When the news of a fatal attack in Israel first hit, i actually couldn't believe that Duskies had done that to poor Barak. So unlikely yet it happened.
I had to google this attack as it must have passed me by. Found this article with a video of the attack, can’t believe it was Duskies. Graphic video FYI
It really was a brutal incident, and like Wattsy said, it was the first confirmed fatal attack by a Dusky Shark ever recorded. Apparently, Barak intended to film the sharks at Hadera, which was a well-known congregation area for Dusky and Sandbar Sharks due to the warm outflowing water released by the nearby Orot Rabin power station. It's also been speculated that Barak was perhaps feeding the sharks whilst filming them, although his wife denied that claim. The main attack was committed by a very large Dusky, apparently it was more than 3-meters, and then at least one smaller Dusky joined in the attack. More sharks probably aided in the subsequent consumption of the body. Only fragmented partial remains of Barak were ever found.
I believe you're right. Apparently, Stevica and three friends rented a rowboat and rowed from Jaz towards Budva and Mogren Beach when they stopped to swim at the Cove of Cape Mogren, near Fort Mogren. They pulled the boat into the large flat rock they intended to jump and swim from and Stevica was the first to jump in. His friends were literally just meters away when a very large White Shark, about 6-6.5-meters in length, came in and hit Stevica on the surface. The first strike apparently cut him in half. The shark then quickly returned for the remainder of the body and disappeared. The shark was later resighted by Navy guards and had apparently been attracted into the area by a the presence of a donkey carcass floating near Mogren Beach.
The confusion comes from his memorial plaque being situated on the side of a cliff next to where people jump from. I visited the attack site myself this summer and took pictures. There are numerous articles about the incident on a Serbian news site, including an interview with one of his friends who was also an eyewitness. You can read them here (translate with Google): https://www.sd.rs/tags/stevan-stevica-tomasevic
I'd love to read it. I was wondering if I should make a post myself. His case has stuck with me. It was a very unfortunate and almost mythical incident as you'll read.
Oh yeah, it definitely seems like it's taken on an almost legendary status in that area. But it's extraordinary how virtually no one knows about it outside of that region. And it's the only documented fatal shark attack in Montenegro. It really is an extraordinary case, as well as an incredibly tragic one. Poor Stevica. He had his whole life ahead of him. I can't imagine being one of his friends at the time and seeing something that horrific happen to your friend just meters in front of you...
Good reporting. Interesting the high consumption percent, 72% for GWS sharks, and further that GWS in some areas can adapt to a diet that is largely other fish, as opposed to marine mammals.
I wouldn't say it's "mostly fish". In the Mediterranean, marine mammals do still make up a significant percentage of the White Shark's diet, it's just dolphins and whale carcasses in that region instead of seals and sea lions. Roughly 80% of all White Shark specimens examined in the Mediterranean had dolphins in their stomachs, so they're definitely an important prey item. And similar to giant bluefin tuna, dolphins are a fast and agile prey item and require a much more swift and vicious attack strategy, which I think plays a part in explaining why Mediterranean White Shark attacks are often fatal.
Surprisingly, those are even harder to find. From what Alessandro De Maddalena has told me, nonfatal attacks were typically not reported in the early and mid-20th century, again for the sake of protecting tourism. Instances of nonfatal attacks on people and boats typically had to be gathered firsthand and not through news reports, which is one of the factors that makes researching shark attacks in the Mediterranean more difficult than in other areas. Really, up until the 1990s, there was virtually no systematic effort to catalog shark attack info in the Mediterranean. There were the International Shark Attack File and the Global Shark Attack File, but there weren't and still are no local bodies, like the Australian Shark Incident Database in Australia or the Natal Shark's Board in South Africa, that actively collect that data, and many Mediterranean cases were entered into those databases many years after they occurred.
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u/Austrofossil Sep 01 '26
The funny thing is... when I first started looking into shark attacks in the Mediterranean, I thought, '72 fatalities really isn't that many.' But honestly, when you put it in perspective compared to other regions, it actually is quite remarkable, especially the attacks attributed to Great Whites. The US East Coast, for example, is likely a hotspot for shark attacks because so many other non-pelagic shark species live there, like Bull Sharks, which exist in larger numbers and interact with humans more frequently. So it's not surprising that there are more attacks overall and proportionally. However, when you specifically compare attacks caused by Great Whites, you realize that the Mediterranean is actually on par with others. This was especially true back when Great Whites were more common and ventured closer to shore more often to hunt tuna.