In a terrifying incident at the popular Dream Beach resort hotel in Hurghada, Egypt, beachgoers and resort staff witnessed a deadly shark attack in the Red Sea on Thursday. The attack occurred approximately 30 meters from the shore, in plain sight of those on the beach.
The victim, 23-year-old Russian citizen and Egyptian resident Vladimir Popov, was swimming with his girlfriend when a tiger shark viciously attacked him. The graphic attack was captured on video, which has since circulated online. Popov’s girlfriend managed to escape unharmed, while his father was present on the beach during the incident. Bystanders made desperate attempts to reach Popov and offer assistance, but were tragically unable to get to him in time.
Viktor Voropaev, the Consul of the Russian Federation in Hurghada, confirmed Popov’s death through Russian state media outlet TASS. “The Russian died as a result of a shark attack; this has already been confirmed by the Egyptian authorities,” Voropaev stated.
This is not the first time shark attacks have occurred near Hurghada. In July 2022, two shark attacks took place within days of each other in the Red Sea. Similar incidents also transpired in the same area in 2020 and 2018. Although most sharks pose no threat to humans, the risk of a fatal encounter remains small but real each time people enter the water.
In the wake of the recent attacks, authorities dispatched a specialized team to capture and examine the shark responsible. Their aim is to uncover the reason for the attacks and determine whether the same animal was involved in the previous incidents.
Egyptian authorities have imposed a two-day ban on swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities, effective from Friday, June 9. The ban stretches from Gouna, north of Hurghada, to Soma Bay in the south. Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, also ordered a committee to investigate the matter and directed authorities to ensure the highest levels of safety for beachgoers. All possible measures are being taken to prevent further attacks.
