Man airlifted to Cork hospital after being bitten by blue shark off Waterford coast

The man was fishing for blue shark for the first time when he was bitten after pulling his catch aboard the vessel

Blue sharks are a narrow-bodied species that can grow to up to 12ft in length, although they are typically between 6ft and 8ft. File picture

A man is receiving medical treatment after being bitten by a shark while fishing off Ardmore Co Waterford.

The man had been angling for blue shark when he caught one and pulled it aboard the pleasure craft, where he was subsequently bitten.

It was reportedly his first time fishing for blue shark.

At approximately 4.16pm on Tuesday, Dublin Coast Guard requested the launch of Ballycotton RNLI to assist a five-metre pleasure craft with five people on board, around four miles south of Ram Head.

The man suffered a leg injury in the incident, which prompted a multi-agency rescue operation involving Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, was launched at 4.30pm and arrived at the scene at approximately 5.10pm.

Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 were already at the casualty vessel when the lifeboat arrived.

Man airlifted to Cork hospital 

Both lifeboats remained on standby while the injured man was winched from the vessel by Rescue 117 before being transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for emergency treatment.

The remaining four people on board did not require assistance, and the pleasure craft subsequently returned safely to Dungarvan.

The victim being airlifted from the pleasure craft. Photo: Facebook

Ballycotton RNLI returned to harbour at approximately 6.15pm.

Eolan Walsh, the Coxswain on duty, said the operation was a “well-coordinated multi-agency response”.

“Our crew were pleased to be able to support the operation and remain on scene while the casualty was transferred for emergency treatment and we wish the casualty a full recovery,” he said.

He urged anyone heading offshore to prioritise safety, including wearing a properly fitted lifejacket or personal flotation device and carrying a reliable means of communication.

“If you get into difficulty at sea, call for help early — contacting the Coast Guard at 999 or 112 can make all the difference,” he said.

Blue sharks generally pose no danger to humans 

According to reports, the man was fishing for blue shark for the first time when the incident occurred.

Kevin Flannery, director of Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium, said blue sharks are generally “of absolutely no danger to humans”.

He said blue sharks are a narrow-bodied species that can grow to up to 12ft in length, although they are typically between 6ft and 8ft.

Mr Flannery said he had never heard of a blue shark attacking a human in the water and that the species generally stays away from beaches and coastlines.

Blue sharks live in deeper, oceanic waters where they hunt tuna and are common in Irish waters, he said.

Mr Flannery also said the species is currently under threat from Spanish fishing fleets catching them in large numbers to sell their fins to the Chinese market.