A 16-year-old teenager was tragically killed and decapitated in a violent shark attack while swimming near a popular vacation destination. The distressing incident occurred in the waters of Jamaica, leading to the heartbreak of Jahmari Reid’s father, Michael Reid, who witnessed his son’s mutilated body being brought ashore.
Jahmari’s body was discovered by divers off the coast, showing signs of a severe shark attack with his head missing and his left arm gone. The young student had gone on a solo spearfishing expedition near Montego Bay, as reported by local authorities.
The search for Jahmari began on Monday, August 26, 2024, and ended the following morning. Witnesses described the gruesome condition of the teen’s body following the attack. Michael disclosed that he had cautioned Jahmari about the dangers of spearfishing alone prior to the tragic incident.
According to fisherman Christopher Reynolds, a large tiger shark was spotted in the vicinity where Jahmari’s body was found. Locals attempted to shoot the shark believed to be responsible for the attack but were unsuccessful.
Fritz Christie, the president of Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society, highlighted that such a brutal shark attack in Trelawny waters was unprecedented. It is suspected that the shark might have trailed a cruise ship into the bay, leading to the tragic encounter with Jahmari.
Jahmari, a student at William Knibb Memorial High School from Trelawny, was scheduled to return to school after the holidays. This incident occurred shortly before another family faced a terrifying shark encounter during a beach outing. Richard Burrows, snorkeling with his father and sister near Key Largo, was bitten by a shark, resulting in a severe knee injury.
Richard’s father quickly applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding, and Richard was airlifted to a hospital for surgery. Fortunately, doctors were able to save his leg, and Richard is on the path to recovery. His family expressed gratitude for the support received during the ordeal.
Florida is known for its frequent shark encounters, with last year recording a significant number of incidents. The specific shark species involved in the recent attacks remains unidentified.