Shark bites feed operator

Jim Abernethy, who runs Scuba Adventures based in West Palm Beach, Florida, was running a shark interaction dive outing yesterday aboard his vessel Shear Water.

According to Florida’s Sun Sentinel, the attack occurred at a site 18 miles off West End, on Grand Bahama. A Coastguard official described Abernethy, 55, as “responsive” during the flight ashore.

In a statement after treatment, Abernethy did not divulge the nature of his injury but described the bite as a “minor incident”.

Abernethy specializes in cage-free meetings with sharks, including larger species such as bulls, tigers and great hammerheads. Bait is used by diving staff to draw the animals in.

In 2008, Abernethy lost a client during a group dive from Shear Water. Austrian Markus Groh, 49, died after being bitten on a leg off Great Isaac Cay.

Shark-feeding operations were banned in nearby Florida in 2001.