A 12-year-old American boy was attacked by a shark in the Bahamas while swimming with his brother in the Exuma Cays, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday near Staniel Cay, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The boy was transported by boat to New Providence for medical treatment and is in stable condition.
The Exuma Cays are a popular destination for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, known for their coral reefs and marine wildlife, including sharks. The Bahamas has one of the world's highest rates of unprovoked shark attacks, though such encounters remain rare. The International Shark Attack File records just 30 confirmed, unprovoked attacks in the Bahamas over the past 400 years.
Recent shark attacks involving Americans in the Bahamas include a February 2025 incident where two women were mauled in Bimini Bay, and an August 2025 attack on a 63-year-old man while spearfishing off Abaco. In January 2024, a 10-year-old boy was bitten on the leg by a shark in the same region.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not specify the type of shark involved in Tuesday's attack. The Exuma Cays have seen previous shark encounters, including a 2018 attack on an American boy by a nurse shark.