A holidaymaker has described the terrifying moment a shark clamped onto her leg and tried to drag her underwater during a snorkelling trip in Brazil.
Underwater Paradise Turns to Panic
Tayane Dalazen, 36, was exploring the crystal-clear waters of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago in the state of Pernambuco when the attack happened. She was swimming with friends and a guide, captivated by the marine life, when a slow-moving nurse shark that had been circling the area suddenly struck.
Horror footage, captured by a fellow tourist, shows the seemingly placid shark approaching Ms Dalazen before it lunges and bites down on her right leg. The scene erupts into chaos as she struggles to free herself from the predator's powerful grip.
How a Nurse Shark's Bite Differs
Unlike more notorious sharks like the Great White, nurse sharks are bottom-feeders not typically known for attacking humans. They can grow up to two metres long and possess strong jaws lined with small, serrated teeth designed for crushing shelled prey like crustaceans.
Their unique feeding mechanism involves creating a vacuum with their throat muscles to suck food from the seafloor. This combination of a strong bite and suction meant the shark inflicted a significant, crescent-shaped wound on Ms Dalazen's leg.
Quick-Thinking Guide to the Rescue
Ms Dalazen recounted the frightening seconds when the shark held on. "I felt it shaking me by the leg," she said. "I thought I could not put my hand there, because it could rip it off. The guide had to hit it so it would let me go."
Following the incident at the popular tourist spot in front of a fishermen's association, she was rushed to hospital. Despite the gruesome-looking bite marks, she sustained only minor injuries and even joked afterwards that the shark "must be missing a tooth".
The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation has opened an investigation into the attack. While nurse shark attacks are rare, authorities note they can occasionally occur in tourist areas, often linked to irregular feeding patterns that alter the animals' natural behaviour.
