The chances of being attacked by a shark are tiny. But when it does happen, the outcome is often tragic. This spring, an Israeli father of four faced the unthinkable, and his last moments left witnesses shaken.

Battled the shark
Recent headlines might make it feel like shark sightings and attacks are suddenly spiking. But according to Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History, that’s not the case.

“Globally, we’re on track for a very normal shark-bite year, with about 70-80 unprovoked around the world,” he told University of Florida.

Naylor also points out that the slight rise in shark bites over the past 30 years has less to do with sharks themselves and more to do with us.

More people are spending time in the ocean than ever before — surfing, swimming, diving, and boating — which naturally increases the chances of crossing paths with these predators.

As of July 30, 2025, there have been 38 publicly reported and verified shark bites worldwide — 4 of them provoked and 8 tragically fatal.

Behind those numbers are real people, lives lost and families left to grieve. One of them was Barak Tzach, 45, from Israel, who was attacked on Hadera beach on April 21. Disturbing footage shows the dad-of-four battling a shark beneath the waves before vanishing from sight.

”Nobody’s coming to save him”
Witnesses called emergency services in panic. One screamed: “There’s someone here that a shark has bitten. He’s screaming, ‘Help!’ He’s in the sea at Hadera. He’s drowning.” Another added: “He’s in the sea. Nobody’s coming to save him.”

A live recording even captured a man reacting in real-time: “Wow, wow, he’s with the shark, he’s fighting him.”

The Coastal Department immediately launched an extensive search, and tragically, on April 22, authorities confirmed that human remains had been found. Cmdr. Aryeh Doron said:

”We are on the second day of searches and are using every available resource. The police commissioner has directed all forces to assist. Several findings have been sent for testing, and we await the results. We are committed to doing everything we can to bring closure to the family and will continue our efforts until the missing man is located.”

What Barak’s wife said
The victim’s wife, Sarit Tzach, shared her heartbreak on Facebook, determined to set the record straight amid swirling rumors. She revealed that Barak had entered the water equipped with snorkel gear and a GoPro camera — not to feed or play with sharks, but to document them.

”Barak entered the water to dive and document the sharks, not to feed them or play with them,” she wrote. ”With deep sorrow and wordless pain, we announce the death of our husband and father. I would like to put an end to the rumors that are being spread around the circumstances of his death and tell the truth.”

Sarit explained that Barak, who knew the area well, had been swimming respectfully.

”He filmed the sharks from a distance but didn’t touch or feed them. When they started to get too close to him, he used the GoPro’s stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him back to shore, and Barak started swimming slowly toward him – and then he was attacked.”

Local authorities have since issued stern warnings to stay out of the water. Most sharks in the area, dusky and sandbar sharks, are generally not aggressive to humans, but they can become agitated by swimmers — and crowds of visitors have only made the situation worse, sometimes trying to touch or feed the predators.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority added: ”The Authority reiterates its warning against interacting with sharks and once again calls on the public to avoid approaching them, as they are protected animals.”

Barak’s final act was one of caution and respect for nature — a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life can be.

Rest in peace, Barak Tzach. A devoted father, husband, and brave diver who met the sea on his own terms.