Shark attacks American diver off coast of Mexico, officials say

The Mexican Navy said the 23-year-old American is recovering from the attack.

November 12, 2019, 5:32 AM

An American diver was attacked by a shark off the coast of Mexico, officials said.

The 23-year-old U.S. citizen was diving in Magdalena Bay off the coast of Baja California Sur state in northwest Mexico on Monday when a shark chomped down on his right forearm, according to a press release from the Mexican Navy.

The man, whose name hasn't been released, apparently managed to swim back to his dive boat and call for help. He was medically evacuated by a naval search and rescue team to the port of San Carlos, where an ambulance transported him to a local hospital for treatment.

PHOTO: A 23-year-old U.S. citizen was attacked by a shark while diving off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, Nov. 11, 2019.
A 23-year-old U.S. citizen was attacked by a shark while diving off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, Nov. 11, 2019.
Mexican Navy

The man's wounds are not considered life-threatening, according to the Mexican Navy.

It’s unknown what species of shark attacked him.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Tuesday morning.

ABC News' Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report.

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