New Caledonia’s Noumea ruined by slate of terrifying shark attacks

The reputation of an idyllic tropical getaway has been stained after one major problem was exposed to the world in recent months.

Thousands of visitors from across the globe pour into New Caledonia every year to experience its idyllic offering of five star resorts, stunning beaches and tropical climate.

The country’s luxury reputation however has been stained in recent months because of “one big problem” that will undoubtedly see its top travel destination status harmed.

A devastating streak of tourists and locals being seriously injured or killed in the water has planted the nation firmly on the map as a hot spot for shark attacks.

In a recent study, New Caledonia ranked 13th in the number of shark attacks with 67 attacks between 1958 and 2020 including 13 fatal ones, which is still far behind Australia (691 attacks), South Africa (260) and Hawaii (179).

Australian couple Lance and Jane Rae said prospective visitors should be aware of the risks before they book their holidays.

They were two of the first on the scene when local 49-year-old teacher, Bridgette Do, lost her leg in a shark attack in country’s capital, Noumea, on January 29.

New Caledonia’s idyllic reputation has been tarnished by a slate of shark attacks. Picture: iStock

Watching the horrifying attack unfold and its immediate aftermath has left a permanent emotional scar on the pair, who were enjoying a peaceful walk along the beach when they heard “the most awful screams”.

“It was something like you would never want to hear in your life,” Mr Rae told news.com.au.

He immediately ran down the jetty and got as close to the screams as he could, quickly realising Mrs Do had been severely injured.

“It was only when I looked down that I realised she had been attacked. She had extensive wounds,” Mr Rae said.

A man on a stand-up paddle board was nearby at the time and managed to pull her onto his board, but the threat had far from passed.

As he paddled her into shore, the “massive” shark swam circles around them, following the heavy trail of blood.

Mrs Rae and top Australian surgeon Professor Gary Hoffman were waiting in knee-deep water, but the panicked husband was worried the shark might go for them next.

“The shark was still circling, and I just thought ‘I’ve got to get them out’,” he said.

By that point police had arrived but weren’t providing the assistance Mr Rae hoped they would.

He was so terrified the shark would attack his wife or Prof Hoffman that he asked an officer to shoot it.

Footage from Sunday’s fatal attack was too graphic to show.

“I could see the shark was coming in, and it was really big, so I said to one of police ‘shoot the shark’, but he wouldn’t,” he said.

“I said, ‘give me your gun and I’ll do it’ … it kept coming in and I just couldn’t believe how big it was, but he wouldn’t shoot it.”

The paddle board eventually came close enough to shore that Mr Rae was able to grab it and pull it to the sand, where immediate medical attention was given to Mrs Do.

Despite losing an enormous amount of blood, one of her legs and a huge chunk from her backside, she survived the attack and is now being treated in Sydney’s Westmead Private Hospital.

The horrifying ordeal foreshadowed the death of 59-year-old Australian tourist Chris Davis who was killed by a shark on Sunday a few metres from where Mrs Do was attacked.

He was removed from the water by two lifeguards on a jetski but could not be resuscitated.

Mr Rae strongly felt the onus was on local authorities and tourist bodies to take the threat of sharks seriously and adequately warn travellers before they arrived of the risks.

An Australian tourist died after being mauled near a crowded beach. Picture: Nine News

“People value the tourism and shark attacks damage the tourism, but people need to know,” he argued.

He also felt shark culling should be taken more seriously in areas where they were well known to frequent.

“Anybody that thinks ‘save the sharks’, perhaps they should come and have a look and see how a beautiful lady was torn to shreds,” he said, adding: “That's why I wanted to shoot the shark.

“I was absolutely shocked the man was killed in exactly the same place as where the lady was attacked,” Mr Rae said.

“Clearly there is a shark problem there, as there is in Australia.”

Mr Rae said he disagreed with people who argued the ocean was shark’s territory, stating: "sorry, but we share the ocean”.

New Caledonia Tourism said “all relevant information is available and accessible to potential travellers, so they can make an informed decision about their travel”.

The group argued there was adequate information about sharks available to prospective travellers.

“New Caledonia is ranked 13th in the world when it comes to recorded shark attacks, and many of the 12 locations ranking ahead of it are popular holiday destinations for Aussies,” a spokesperson said.

“New Caledonia currently ranks far behind destinations such as Australia (691 attacks), South Africa (260 attacks) and Hawaii (179 attacks).”

Incredible images of killer shark

Extraordinary pictures of the shark believed to have mauled to an Australian dad to death in New Caledonia have been released.

Married father-of-three Mr Davis, a senior software programming consultant from Sydney, had been swimming about 150 meters from Château-Royal beach in Noumea when a shark, believed to be a four-metre tiger shark, bit him several times on the legs and arms.

Confronting video footage of the attack showed the desperate efforts of two nearby jet skiers who pulled critically injured Mr Davis, 59, to shore, as well as the attempts by two lifeguards to resuscitate him.

Local authorities say they have captured the 4m tiger shark that killed Chris Davis. Picture: Supplied.

Chris Davis.

Despite their efforts, Mr Davis could not be saved and was carried off the beach on a stretcher, covered in foil.

Mr Davis’s grieving family said they remember him as a beloved husband and father who was also a keen triathlete.

“Chris was a senior software programming consultant in the superannuation and funds management industry and a keen triathlete, having represented Australia several times in age group world championship events,” they said.

Locals have posted images of the shark to social media.

“He is survived by his wife and three adult sons, who express their sincere gratitude to the New Caledonian authorities for the efforts in treating him and to the Australian and New Caledonian governments for aiding his return to Australia.”

Locals have taken to social media, reporting the large tiger shark that fatally wounded Mr Davis has been caught.

One local wrote: “They finally found the rogue shark.”

New Caledonia Tourism said information on shark attacks could be found here.

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