Israeli diver missing after being mauled by shark in Hadera

An Israeli diver is missing and presumed dead after being attacked by a shark off the Mediterranean coast of Hadera in Israel on Monday.

The incident occurred near the Hadera River beach, a coastline area near the Orot Rabin power station known for attracting large marine species due to its warm water discharge.

According to Israeli media, the swimmer was in an area officially prohibited, though the public reportedly often flouts such restrictions.

Shocking footage shared on social media showed a man thrashing in the sea as a large shark circled him, with the water around him turning red.

The video, which has gone viral, showed the man going missing beneath the surface.

❗️🦈🇮🇱 - On April 21, 2025, a shark attack off Olga Beach, Hadera, Israel, left an Israeli diver presumed dead.

The diver, spearfishing near the Hadera River estuary, was attacked after attracting a shark with blood from his catch, as seen in eyewitness footage showing… pic.twitter.com/KPQkkgJgX9

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) April 21, 2025

Police and emergency services responded to the scene, deploying helicopters and rescue boats to scan the area for the missing diver. The Hadera Municipality’s coastal division also joined the effort, using jet skis to comb the shoreline.

"Following a report of a bather being attacked by a shark at the Hadera River beach, the police are announcing the closure of the beach to bathers until further notice," the Israeli police said.

An eyewitness, who spoke to Israeli media, described the moment when the man screamed for help. They said: "I saw the diver in the depths of the water. He shouted, 'I'm bitten, I'm bitten,' and waved his hands in the air. After a few minutes, sharks bit him, and suddenly he disappeared."

The shark in Hadera was filmed passing between children in Israel without anyone taking any action just moments before the attack happened. https://t.co/RNwhoXuQdM pic.twitter.com/mvXMLLVEHq

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) April 21, 2025

Shark attacks in the Mediterranean are rare. According to data from the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, only 50 confirmed attacks have occurred in the region since 1900, with just 11 resulting in fatalities.

Most documented incidents globally occur in the waters of the United States and Australia. In recent years, Hadera has become a seasonal gathering point for dusky and sandbar sharks, which are generally considered non-aggressive toward humans.

Only days before the attack, two dusky sharks were spotted near the Beit Yanai coast, just north of Hadera. A video of that encounter, captured by local resident Yehuda Zimbris, showed the sharks swimming close to the shoreline. 

"I suddenly noticed two shadows in the water," Zimbris told Israeli media. "They got within 50–100 meters of the shore, which caused panic among swimmers."

Despite being considered harmless, the sharks' growing contact with swimmers has sparked concern from conservationists and safety authorities.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel issued a statement in the wake of Monday’s attack, criticising the state for failing to implement effective safety protocols.

"Every winter, a unique phenomenon occurs in Israel in which sharks and rays gather at the outlet of the warm waters of the power stations. In the case of such a fascinating and public-attracting phenomenon, it would be appropriate to take conservation and safety measures for the public, but over the years, chaos has developed in the area," the group said.

The beach remains closed, and the public has been advised to stay clear of the water.