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Marine Biologist Survives Shark Attack Near Cocos Island After 36-Hour Evacuation

The island’s remoteness turned lifesaving care into a sea-to-land relay to a San José hospital.

Overview

  • Mauricio Hoyos, 48, was bitten during a tagging dive for the One Ocean Worldwide Coalition, which includes Fins Attached.
  • He reached a San José clinic in stable condition after surgery and is reported to need a second reconstructive procedure in the coming days.
  • Responders described the shark as roughly four meters long and reported it to be a Galapagos shark, though the species identification is not formally confirmed.
  • The bite to his head at about 40 meters depth damaged his air hose, forcing him to surface without air as an assistant drove the shark away.
  • Park rangers and medics coordinated a 36-hour transfer by boat roughly 500–550 kilometers to the mainland and then by ambulance, with organizers stressing such incidents are rare in the UNESCO-listed reserve known for high shark diversity.