A diver has been confirmed dead after human remains were found following a shark attack at a popular Israeli beach, police have confirmed.
Authorities closed off the beach in the Coastal Plain city of Hadera on Monday following reports that a beachgoer was attacked while in the water.
Footage obtained by JNS showed a shark, around six feet in length, swimming around a group of children in the shallows before heading back out to see. This is believed to have been the same shark that attacked a swimmer in deeper waters.
Eyewitnesses described seeing blood in the water and hearing the victim screaming for help, before they were dragged further out.
Police announced this morning that human remains had been discovered nearby and have since confirmed the death of the victim.
Hadera Deputy Fire Chief Doron Almashali said: "After a day and a half of intensive effort, we have found what appears to be part of the missing person.
"Naturally, these findings must undergo thorough examinations by the Israel Police and the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute. We will continue working to confirm that we have indeed found the missing individual.
"We conducted our search pattern based on careful analysis of underwater currents, and it was precisely in that area where the remains were discovered. I sincerely hope we have indeed found the diver who was attacked by the sharks."
A later statement from Israel Police revealed that the lab results had returned and confirmed the remains as belonging to the diver in question.
The beaches in the area remain closed at the order of the regional council, which has warned swimmers to be aware of the danger posed by sharks.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority noted that the reported shark attack took place in an area that is prohibited for swimming.
“The Authority reiterates its warning against interacting with sharks and once again calls on the public to avoid approaching them, as they are protected animals,” the state body said.
However, shark attacks are extremely rare in Israel. In 2013, an attack occurred after a shark got trapped inside a fish cage and bit when people tried to remove it.
Before that, the only recorded incident was during the British Mandate period, when a police officer was attacked off Tel Aviv’s coast.
