Surfer Dies Following Shark Attack In Costa Rica

Kevin Morga, the 15 year old surfer who was attacked by a shark on Costa Rica's Pacific coast has died as a result of the injuries suffered during the attack, doctors said.

Kevin was floating on a surfboard in Playa Grande, Guanacaste, when a shark bit his leg, according to the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) report.

The boy went into cardiac arrest from the resulting blood loss and slipped into a come which he never recovered.

Although shark attacks are not common, it is always best to take care, especially in estuaries where they have a greater presence, especially this time of year.

The rains wash sediment containing nutrients which feed these predators as they approach the mouths of the rivers to hunt, so it is best to avoid these sites.

In addition, mangroves and marshes are breeding areas for many species of shark. In these places the females have their young and go, but these remain to be juveniles.

Randall Arauz, a biologist and shark expert at Pretoma, said the river Tárcoles, the mouth of the Sierpe, Sirena and Golfo Dulce rivers, are were juvenile sharks are commonly found.

The most common species are bull sharks, tiger and hammerhead. Guanacaste has many adult sharks.

According to Arauz, what happened was an unfortunate accident, but said that sharks do not prey on people to attack and bite, they are just curious.

"If the shark is in its habitat and sees something it knows it can take bite to inquire, it Usually bites and releases quickly because it realizes that the human is not its food", he said.

Jesus Escalona of the Cruz Roja, said these types of accidents are rare but that the medical attention must be immediate due to the loss of blood.

He said it is vital that swimmers should report on the conditions of a beach in terms of currents and marine life.