A tragic incident took place in the seaside city of Hurghada, in the Red Sea, when a shark devoured a young Russian. The father of the 23-year-old victim recounted that it all happened in a matter of seconds. This is the first shark bite fatality in Egypt in 2023, following the deaths of two tourists under similar circumstances last year. Health sources reported that the attack occurred suddenly and unexpectedly, prompting a ban on swimming in the area until the level of threat is determined.

According to the same sources, one of the boats failed to rescue the Russian citizen, who was desperately calling for help before being devoured by the shark. Although a video was circulated on Twitter showing the man being attacked, its authenticity has not been independently verified. So far, Egyptian authorities have not issued any statements regarding the incident.

The victim has been identified as Vladimir Popov, a permanent resident of Egypt, as confirmed by the Russian Consul General in the country. The consul stated, "The Russian died as a result of a shark attack" and cautioned citizens to exercise caution when entering the sea.

The victim's father, Yury Popov, lamented the lack of nearby assistance during the attack and expressed disbelief at the incident, considering the beach to be safe with no previous such occurrences. "My son was attacked by a shark, it all happened in a matter of seconds," he said.

This incident adds to the confirmation of two deaths last year from shark attacks in another seaside city on the Red Sea. Although shark attacks have been relatively rare in the coastal region in recent years, the Red Sea is a popular attraction for tourism and diving due to its warm, transparent waters teeming with marine life. Egypt relies on tourism as an economic driver, primarily welcoming visitors from Russia and Eastern European countries.