Boy, 16, decapitated by shark in horror attack as ‘big’ beast mauled him while he was swimming off coast of Jamaica
A TEENAGER has been decapitated in a horror shark attack after he went off swimming by himself.
Divers recovered Jahmari Reid’s body off the coast of Jamaica with his head reportedly bitten off and his left arm missing.
The 16-year-old high school student had gone on a solo spearfishing expedition near to the popular tourist town of Montego Bay, say local cops.
He vanished on Monday sparking a frantic hunt.
His mauled remains were found on Tuesday morning with shocked witnesses telling the Jamaica Observer the teen’s body was left badly mutilated in the attack.
Jahmari’s heartbroken dad, Michael Reid, was on the beach when divers bought the body back to land.
The retired taxi operator said: “I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself and that was the outcome. Sad to know. I feel so bad.”
Michael says he warned his son about the dangers of spearfishing alone before the tragedy.
Fisherman Christopher Reynolds was with the grief-stricken father on the beach along with a group of locals.
He says divers claimed to have seen a massive tiger shark in the water near to where Jahmari’s body was found.
Leading them to believe the shark spotted most likely caused the mauling.
Reynolds added: “All of the fisherman went out there and, while they were diving to take him up, they saw the big shark.
“They shot at him but they didn’t get him.”
The tragic discovery marks just the fourth time an unprovoked shark attack has led to a death in Jamaica, according to Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
Fritz Christie, the president of Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society, said it was the first time the savage beasts have killed in Trelawny waters.
Locals believe the shark followed a cruise ship into the bay.
Fritz told local media: “What we have to do is make certain when the ships come to be careful of the diving.
“The shark eat off the man head, eat off one of his hand [sic]. It’s crazy, man.”
Jahmari was a William Knibb Memorial High School student from Trelawny.
He was due to return to school in September after the holidays.
It comes as a 15-year-old girl lost her leg in a shark attack after scuba diving off the coast of Belize, earlier this month.
Annabelle Carlson was airlifted to hospital after being bitten by the shark while on holiday.
What are tiger sharks?
TIGER sharks are named from the black, vertical stripes that appear mostly on youngsters.
As these sharks develop, their lines fade and practically vanish, National Geographic reports.
Tiger sharks are one of only three species considered extremely dangerous to humans.
They make up nearly all fatal encounters, along with bull sharks and great white sharks.
Unlike great white sharks who are said to dislike the taste, a tiger shark is more likely to take several bites out of a body.
Tiger sharks are common in tropical and subtropical waters across the world.
The biggest can reach sizes of up to 25 feet in length and weigh more than 1,900 pounds.
They are notorious scavengers, with sharp, highly serrated teeth and strong jaws capable of cracking sea turtle and clam shells.
Tiger sharks are frequently collected for their fins, skin, and flesh, and their livers contain a high concentration of vitamin A.
They have extremely poor repopulation rates and are classed as almost an endangered species.