Egypt: An incident in which a shark attacked and killed a 23-year-old Russian tourist at a highly secured beach in Egypt has led to an unusual decision. Reports suggest that the shark responsible for the attack will be mummified and displayed in an Egyptian museum. The victim, Vladimir Popov, was tragically eaten alive by the shark at a resort in Hurghada, an Egyptian Red Sea city.
The horrifying incident was captured on camera, showing Popov desperately trying to escape the predator's grasp while screaming for help. Despite his efforts, he was dragged underwater and killed. The Consulate General of Russia in Hurghada confirmed the death, labeling it as a shark attack. In response, the Consulate issued a warning to Russian nationals in Hurghada, urging them to exercise caution and adhere to swimming and diving restrictions imposed by Egyptian authorities.
Following the attack, the Egyptian Ministry of Environment took immediate action, temporarily prohibiting swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities in the Red Sea region between the Al-Gouna resort and Soma Bay. This measure was implemented to facilitate investigations and surveys. The gruesome video of the incident circulated on social media, revealing the victim being torn apart by the shark.
Local governor Major General Amr Hanafi has expressed support for installing protective nets near beaches, hotels, and tourist areas. The proposal, in collaboration with the Association of Tourism Investors, entails requiring hotels with private beaches to finance the installation of these protective barriers. Additionally, guidelines would be developed to specify net characteristics, distance from the coastline, and attachment methods.
While statistics indicate that shark attacks near Red Sea beaches are rare, similar incidents have occurred in the past. In 2022, both Austrian and Romanian tourists fell victim to shark attacks in the same area within a few days of each other. In response to the recent attack, an Egyptian team has identified the culprit as a tiger shark, which has been captured and sent to the Ministry's laboratories for examination.
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, has emphasized the importance of following instructions and regulations when interacting with the natural resources of the Red Sea in order to ensure personal safety. The hotel lifeguards involved in the incident discovered a part of the victim's body, while two other tourists sustained injuries in the shark attack.
Although shark attacks are relatively uncommon at Egypt's Red Sea resorts, the country had previously closed off a stretch of its Red Sea coastline following the deaths of two tourists. Hurghada, known for its popularity among Russian tourists, is a favored destination in the region.
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