A shocking incident occurred off the coast of Falmouth, Jamaica on August 26, 2024, that claimed the life of 16-year-old Jahmari Reid. The teenager is believed to have been attacked by a shark while indulging in his favorite pastime, spearfishing.
Jahmari, a student at William Knibb Memorial High School and a resident of Trelawny, had gone spearfishing on his own, an activity he had loved since his childhood. When he didn’t return home at the usual time, his worried family initiated a search.
According to fisherman Christopher Reynolds, Jahmari’s body was found by a group of divers during Tuesday morning’s search. The divers also encountered a large tiger shark near the discovery site, shortly after finding a detached arm in the water. The team tried to shoot the shark while retrieving Jahmari’s body but were unsuccessful. The police report suggests that Jahmari’s head and left hand were missing when his body was recovered. Reynolds indicated that they intend to find and kill the shark in an attempt to recover the boy’s severed head.
In an interview with local media, Jahmari’s father, Michael Reid, expressed his disbelief and sorrow. “I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself… and that was the outcome,” said his father. “I feel so bad,” he added. Reid also said that he used to argue with Jahmari about not going spearfishing alone.
Jahmari’s mother, Lavern Robinson, was overcome with grief as she struggled to find words to express her loss. She shared how Jahmari had been going to sea from a young age with his uncle and had a deep love for it. He was a 10th grade student, preparing to enter 11th grade.
Fritz Christie, President of the Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society, stated that this was the first deadly shark attack in the Trelawny area in recent memory. He hypothesized that a cruise ship might have attracted the shark to the location, and it stayed there.
The authorities are investigating the incident and are waiting for the post-mortem examination reports to confirm if a shark attack caused Jahmari’s demise. While the confirmation is pending, the suspected attack has sparked concern among the local fishing community, who are calling for increased caution.
Shark attacks are exceptionally rare in Jamaica, with just three unprovoked incidents reported since 1749. The circumstances surrounding this incident have created a sense of unease in the community, as efforts to locate the shark continue.