The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when the attack took place
A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg and sustained severe injuries in a shark attack on Friday, July 25, while swimming with other children at Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, in French Polynesia.
According to Agence France-Presse, the boy was bitten on the right forearm, left hand, and one calf, which was torn off. He was first taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to the French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF), about 930 miles away.
A firefighter at the scene said, “I’m 35 years old, and this is the first time I’ve seen this. These were long and deep wounds.” He added, “It’s probably related to the fish carcasses that fishermen throw in this area.”
The area is known for frequent shark sightings, including blacktips and hammerheads. PEOPLE reached out to CHPF for comment but received no immediate response.