Ilocos fisher killed in shark attack

BAGUIO CITY – A 39-year-old fisherman from the fishing village of Callaguip, Paoay town in Ilocos Norte was attacked and killed by a shark before noon Thursday.

Local fisherman Joel Bacud who was with his 17-year-old son Louie, some three hours away at high waters off the South China Sea along the northern town coast went fishing aboard their motorized banca when the elder Bacud dived in deep water to check on their fishing net.

A shark suddenly sprung and attacked the elder Bacud, said Paoay town police chief Senior Inspector Dexter Corpuz in a telephone interview. 

It was not known if Bacud had a wound because sharks only attack after smelling blood.

When retrieved from the waters Thursday noontime, Bacud was already lifeless. 

The father and son went fishing around 5 a.m. and the attack happened around 10 to 11 a.m.

The attack happened about three hours away by travel from the shoreline, Bacud said.

The victim’s son Louie, 17, who was unhurt, brought his father’s body along the shoreline using their motorized banca.

He said that the elder Bacud jumped off from the motorized banca with some bloodied fish catch which apparently drew the shark’s attention.

The shark gnawed Bacud’s back, particularly at the right side, his right arm  had a big wound while his upper torso had nine scratches of the shark’s teeth.

It was the first time that such shark attack happened at the high seas here, Bacud said. – Eva Visperas