A man in Israel has died following a shark attack off the Mediterranean coast, authorities and his wife confirmed on Wednesday. The man, identified in Israeli media as Barak Tzach, was in his 40s and a father of four. He had been swimming in an area known for attracting both sharks and beachgoers, despite ongoing warnings from authorities.
After a two-day search, police confirmed that remains found near the site of the incident matched Tzach. The area, which has seen a growing presence of endangered dusky and sandbar sharks over the years, has become a hotspot for onlookers and swimmers. Conservationists have repeatedly urged officials to restrict access to the waters to protect both people and the marine animals.
In recent days, crowds had gathered to swim alongside the sharks, with some even seen tugging on their tails or feeding them—actions condemned by authorities. Swimming is officially banned at the beach, but many continue to enter the water regardless of the restriction.
According to a Facebook post by Tzach’s wife, Sarit, her husband had entered the water equipped with snorkeling gear and an underwater camera. She emphasized that he had no intention of interacting with the sharks, only to film them. A fisherman who accompanied him said Tzach kept a safe distance, only using a camera stick to gently steer sharks away when they got too close.
Sarit wrote that the fisherman called Tzach back to shore when things began to seem risky. As he made his way back slowly, he was attacked.
Shark attacks in Israel are extremely rare. According to Yigael Ben-Ari, who leads the marine ranger unit at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, this marks only the third recorded shark attack in the country. The last fatal incident occurred in the 1940s.
Following the attack, Israeli authorities closed the beach and nearby areas. The incident occurred during a weeklong holiday when many Israelis had flocked to the beach, sharing the shallow waters with several large sharks.
Dusky sharks, one of the species commonly seen in the area, can grow up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length and weigh around 350 kilograms (750 pounds). Sandbar sharks are slightly smaller, reaching about 2.5 meters (8 feet) and 100 kilograms (220 pounds).
One widely circulated video showed a shark approaching beachgoers in shallow water. A man filming can be heard shouting in awe, “What a huge shark!” as it swims closer. He then warns a child nearby, saying, “Don’t move!” The boy replies, “I’m leaving.” The man jokingly asks, “What, are you afraid of the sharks?”
