Young Alicante doctor loses leg in shark attack while on honeymoon
The 31-year-old Alicante General Hospital doctor is in a critical condition after the attack in the Maldives
A 31-year-old doctor from Alicante is fighting for his life in a hospital in the Maldives after being attacked by a shark during his honeymoon.
Borja, who works as a gynaecologist at Alicante General Hospital, was on a boat trip with his new wife at Koodoo Atoll, one of the archipelago's most popular tourist destinations, when the attack happened.
The shark tore off a large part of his leg, and he was airlifted immediately to a hospital in Malé, the country's capital, for emergency treatment. Surgeons were unable to save the limb due to the severity of the damage to his blood vessels and were forced to amputate.
According to specialist diving website ScubaVerse, Borja is currently in the ICU in critical condition and on life support. The hospital has activated a massive blood transfusion protocol to manage the extent of his blood loss and stabilise his vital signs.
His wife's family have described the incident as a case of gross negligence, claiming the company that provided the water activity acted recklessly, and have already filed a formal complaint, according to local reports.
Investigators are working to establish which species of shark was responsible. Possibilities being looked at include the spinner shark, which is common in the area, although a bull shark or great white has not been ruled out.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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