A 16-year-old boy, Jahmari Reid, was reported dead in a suspected shark attack while spearfishing in Falmouth, Jamaica on August 26, 2024.
Reid, a resident of Trelawny and a student at William Knibb Memorial High School, had gone spearfishing alone, a hobby he had been passionate about since his youth. His family initiated a search when he did not return home as anticipated.
Christopher Reynolds, a local fisherman, reported that divers found Reid’s body during a search operation on Tuesday morning. Reynolds stated that they noticed a large tiger shark in the vicinity where Reid’s body was found, following the discovery of a severed arm in the water. An attempt was made to shoot the shark as Reid’s body was recovered, but the effort was futile. Police reports suggest that Reid’s head and left hand were absent when his body was discovered. The goal is to find and kill the shark in an attempt to recover Reid’s severed head.
In an interview with local media, Reid’s father, Michael Reid, expressed his disbelief and sorrow, saying, “I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself… and that was the outcome. I feel so bad.” He said he tried to discourage Jahmari from diving alone, and the two would often argue about it.
Meanwhile, Reid’s mother, Lavern Robinson, struggled to express her grief. She shared that Reid had been going out to sea since he was a child with his uncle, loved the activity, and was preparing to enter grade 11 at school.
Fritz Christie, President of the Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society, stated that this is the first fatal shark attack in the Trelawny region in recent times. He speculated that the shark may have trailed a cruise ship into the area.
The authorities are investigating the incident and await the post-mortem examination results to confirm if a shark was indeed responsible for Reid’s death. The suspected shark attack has stirred concerns among local fishermen, who are now advocating for increased caution while at sea.
Shark attacks are highly uncommon in Jamaica with only three unprovoked attacks reported since 1749. The unique nature of this incident has left the local community in a state of heightened alertness as efforts to find the shark continue.
