world
12-Year-Old American Boy Stable After Shark Attack in Bahamas
A 12-year-old American boy was attacked by a shark while swimming with his brother in Staniel Cay on Tuesday. He was transported to New Providence for treatment and remained in stable condition Wednesday. CBS News reported the details from police.
washingtonpost.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
A 12-year-old American boy remained in stable condition Wednesday after a shark attacked him while swimming off Staniel Cay in the Exuma Cays, CBS News reported. The boy was on a family tour of the Exuma Cays and was accompanied by his brother when the attack occurred around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
He was transported by boat to New Providence, where he received medical treatment. Police did not specify the type of shark or the nature of the boy's injuries. The Bahamas has one of the world's highest rates of unprovoked shark attacks despite its small size, ranking ninth according to the International Shark Attack File.
The database records 30 confirmed unprovoked attacks in the country over the past 400 years. The Exuma Cays attract visitors for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, with waters around Staniel Cay featuring coral reefs, shipwrecks and marine life including sharks. Several other Americans have been injured in shark attacks in the Bahamas in recent years.
In February 2025, two American women were attacked while swimming off Bimini Bay, with one seriously injured. A 63-year-old American man was severely injured while spearfishing off Abaco in August 2025 and was airlifted to the United States. A 10-year-old boy from Maryland was bitten on the leg in January 2024, and a Boston woman died after an attack while paddleboarding in December 2023.
