Fatal Bull Shark Attack on Wing Foiler at Anse Vata, Noumea, New Caledonia (February 2026)

On 22 February 2026, a 55-year-old male wing foiler was fatally attacked by a shark in the waters of Anse Vata near Point Magnin, Noumea, New Caledonia (approximately 22.2975°S, 166.4581°E). The victim sustained deep wounds to both the arms and legs. The attack proved fatal. The responsible species was identified as a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), a species known to inhabit coastal and estuarine waters and documented in the waters around New Caledonia.

Noumea is the capital city of New Caledonia, a French special collectivity located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Anse Vata is a bay situated on the southern coast of the main island, Grande Terre, and is a regularly used recreational water area. Bull sharks are among the species most frequently implicated in unprovoked fatal attacks worldwide, owing in part to their tolerance for shallow, nearshore environments.

The incident represents a fatal unprovoked shark attack in a region that has recorded multiple such events in recent years. One source noted a discrepancy in the victim's reported age; the structured incident data records the victim as 55 years old, while one published report cited a different figure. The age of 55 is used here as the primary reference.