Jamaican police have confirmed that a shark attack claimed the life of a 16-year-old high school student, Jahmari Reid, from the northern parish of Trelawny. The teenager’s body was discovered by fishermen in waters just north of the island, bearing injuries consistent with a shark attack.
Authorities reported that Reid had apparently gone spearfishing alone early Monday. His body was found the following day, with police issuing a statement late Tuesday detailing the tragic incident.
This attack marks a rare occurrence in Jamaican waters. According to the International Shark Attack File, administered by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society, only three unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in Jamaica since 1749.
The incident contributes to global shark attack statistics, which remain relatively low. In 2023, a total of 69 confirmed unprovoked attacks were recorded worldwide, resulting in 14 fatalities. The International Shark Attack File noted a “disproportionate” number of deaths from shark bites in Australia last year compared to other countries, with Australia accounting for approximately 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks in 2023.
Recent months have seen several high-profile shark attacks globally. In July, a surfer in Australia lost his leg in an encounter with a great white shark. The previous month, renowned surfer Tamayo Perry suffered fatal injuries in a shark attack off Oahu, Hawaii. January saw a young fisherman killed by a shark while diving for scallops off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
