First Fatal Dusky Shark Attack in Mediterranean

In April 2025, 40-year-old tourist Barak Tzach was fatally mauled while swimming and filming at Olga Beach in Hadera, Israel, and bystanders captured disturbing footage of the attack. A study published in Ethology by researchers at PSL University in Paris, led by Eric Clua, identified multiple dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) as the attackers, marking the first known fatal dusky-shark attack. Witness testimony and forensic evidence indicate several sharks were involved and the victim’s remains, recovered the following day only in very small quantities, are consistent with a feeding frenzy. Scientists say local ecological factors likely contributed, citing shark habituation and “begging” from repeated food provisioning by tourist boat operators, attraction to warm water discharged by a nearby power plant, and competitive food conditions. Authorities and researchers warned the incident highlights the risks of close human–wildlife interactions and underscores the need for greater caution and management of practices that concentrate sharks near recreational beaches.