A Belgian tourist was killed, and a 52-year-old woman from Los Angeles, California, was injured at Playa Quieta beach in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero state, Mexico, on Thursday, December 14, 2023. The attacks, either by a shark or a crocodile, happened at a peaceful beach on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The deceased, a 76-year-old Belgian male, was on vacation with his wife at a neighboring resort when he suffered a severe leg injury, resulting in his death at the site. Another incident soon followed, where the Los Angeles woman sustained leg injuries. She was immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Officials are investigating to ascertain the causes of these attacks. There is uncertainty whether a shark or a crocodile, both present in the local waters, is responsible. The Guerrero State Civil Defense Office is analyzing the wounds to identify the animal involved.
Should these incidents be verified as shark attacks, this would be the second such death in December on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. Earlier, a shark attack near Melaque, west of Manzanillo, resulted in a Mexican woman’s death.
Santos Ramírez, Guerrero State’s Tourism Secretary, raised the possibility of a crocodile attack, mentioning that the water temperatures are not conducive for sharks. Naval searches revealed no sharks in the area.
Playa Quieta has been closed temporarily as a safety measure following these incidents.