How dangerous is the Cookiecutter shark that attacked Turkish swimmers?
Turkish swimmers Yasemin Altıntaş and Murat Öz were attacked by a 'Cookiecutter' shark while attempting to cross the Molokai Channel off the coast of Hawaii. Murat Öz, who was injured in the attack, was taken to the hospital, and both athletes were forced to return to Turkey without completing the course. So, what do we know about the 'Cookiecutter' shark species involved in this incident?
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Yasemin Altıntaş and Murat Öz, who represent Turkey in international open-water swimming competitions, were attacked by a shark during their attempt to cross the Molokai Channel in the Pacific Ocean. The incident, which occurred at the 21st kilometer of the challenging 45-kilometer course that began at Papohaku Beach in southern Hawaii, forced the athletes to abandon their plans. After swimming for a long time, Altıntaş and Öz encountered an attack by a shark species known as the "Cookiecutter" and had to stop before completing the swim.
ATTACKED DURING A FEEDING BREAK
According to information received from the swimmers' technical team, an octopus and then a shark appeared as underwater dangers during the athletes' feeding break. The shark bit Murat Öz on the waist, causing serious injury, while Yasemin Altıntaş escaped the incident without any injuries.
Describing those moments, Murat Öz said, "We had been waiting for suitable weather conditions for this swim in Hawaii for about 20 days. Just when we thought it wouldn't happen, a short-term opportunity arose between two storms, and we decided to take it."
WHAT IS A COOKIECUTTER SHARK?
According to NTV, the "Cookiecutter" shark that carried out the attack is generally known for its parasitic characteristics. This species gets its name from the cookie-shaped bite marks, which are 5 cm in diameter and 7 cm deep. While the Cookiecutter usually attacks large marine creatures, attacks on humans are rarely encountered.
Active at night and drawing attention with its bioluminescent body, this shark species generally lives in temperate waters and around islands. This type of fish, which comes to the surface at night and retreats to deep waters during the day, mostly hunts in the dark.
Following the attack, the injured Murat Öz was quickly brought to shore and transferred to the nearest hospital. Pilot Michael Twigg-Smith, one of the Turkish swimmers' coaches, stated, "The wind and current were quite favorable. If this unfortunate incident had not occurred, the swimmers would have successfully completed the course."
Twigg-Smith also noted that, following the incident, night swims will no longer be permitted in the Molokai Channel.