Mumbai, August 28: The decapitated body of Jahmari Reid, a 16-year-old Jamaican boy, was recovered by the authorities on August 27 after he was mauled to death in a suspected shark attack. Reid was found one day after he went missing on August 26, during a solo spear-fishing expedition off the Montego Bay in north-west Jamaica. Reid was brutally mutilated during the shark attack, with his left arm and head decapacitated from his body when he went swimming in the waters off the Jamaican coast. Rescue teams found Reid's severed arm in the water. Shark attacks are extremely rare in this Caribbean island, with only three recorded incidents since 1749. The authorities suspect a man-eater tiger shark stalking the nearby waters to be responsible for Reid's death.
The divers around had tried to shoot a shark nearby, but missed, as per a witness report in NY Post. The rescuers could not recover Reid's head from the shark's belly. The local police identified the victim as Jahmari Reid from the northern parish of Trelawny nearby after his arm and body were recovered. They showed consistent injuries related to a typical shark attack. Shark Attack in US: Shark Attacks Four People on South Padre Island During July 4 Celebrations, One Hospitalised (Watch Video).
Michael Reid, the victim's grieving father, who never entirely subscribed to his solo sea adventures, said, "I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself yesterday and that was the outcome. Sad to know. I feel so bad." Michael Reid consistently urged against spear-fishing and was against his son pursuing the water sport. Shark Attack in Florida: Man Bitten by Shark He Caught While Fishing in Fernandina Beach (See Pic).
The suspected tiger shark that attacked Reid was later spotted following a cruise vessel. Fritz Christie, the president of Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society, told the publication, "What we have to do is make certain when the ships come to be careful of the diving. The shark eat off the man head, eat off one of his hand (sic). It’s crazy, man.”
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2024 03:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).