A marine biologist leading a scientific expedition to a remote island in Costa Rica was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by a giant shark. Dr. Mauricio Hoyos, 48, was bitten on the head while studying marine life in the Cocos Islands, a remote archipelago located approximately 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, known to harbor up to 14 different species of sharks. “He was tagging species for monitoring, and when he tagged one of the island’s shark species, the shark turned,” a physician with the Costa Rican Fire Department explained. “It was about 4 meters long (13 feet) with an enormous bite force—it turned and bit him on the head.” Hoyos, from Mexico, was transported back to the mainland, a gruelling 36-hour journey. He suffered severe injuries to the face, arm, and torso.

See Full Page