Body parts of Russian tourist found in shark after it was beaten to death
The body parts of a Russian tourist who was videotaped being eaten alive by a shark were recovered from inside the predator’s belly after it was clubbed to death by beachgoers near an Egyptian resort.
Vladimir Popov, 23, was caught on bone-chilling footage being attacked by a tiger shark last week and dragged underwater in Hurghada as he screamed for help.
The shark was later caught, and beach-goers beat it to death on the shore.
The shark has since been dissected by specialists, who confirmed that the animal was the one that ate Popov — after finding his remains in its intestines, local outlet Al Arabiya reported.
Officials said the shark attacked Popov while he was swimming in the Red Sea at a resort beach location in Hurghada.
Popov’s father Yury said the pair had “gone to the beach to relax” when all of a sudden, his son “was attacked by a shark,” CEN reported.
The body parts of a Russian tourist who was videotaped being eaten alive by a shark were recovered from inside the predator’s belly. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
The shark was later caught, and beach-goers beat it to death on the shore. Grigory Kataev via REUTERS
The shark attack victim was Vladimir Popov. social media / East2west News
Popov was in the water with his girlfriend, who escaped, while fellow beachgoers said there was little they could do as the shark chomped down on him.
In terrifying video, Popov can be seen splashing about in the ocean before getting dragged under as horrified onlookers scream for help.
According to CEN, the victim had yelled, “Papa…save me!” before getting yanked underwater. Eyewitnesses also claimed the shark toyed with the Russian’s body for two hours after the killing.
Yury deemed the attack “an absolutely ridiculous coincidence,” adding that he would cremate his son’s remains and return the ashes to Russia.
A man beats the beached shark with a metal pole. East2West
Officials said the shark attacked the victim while he was swimming in the Red Sea at a resort beach location in Hurghada. social media / East2west News
In the video, the victim can be seen splashing about in the ocean before getting dragged under as horrified onlookers scream for help. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
The attack left many tourists stunned, with beachgoers convening when investigators caught the shark and dragged it ashore. A vigilante mob was present to brutally club the animal to death.
Video of the scene shows the group horrifically beating the animal, and it concludes with the cameraman even posing for a selfie as the savage scene unfolds in the background.
Officials have yet to reveal if the shark that ate Popov was involved in other reported incidents in the area.
While attacks are fortunately rare in Red Sea coastal regions, last year, sharks killed two women — an Austrian and a Romanian — just days apart in another popular tourist spot in Hurghada.
Source: New York Post
