Rugby player, 24, mauled to death by shark while diving off boat in New Zealand

A promising sport star has died after being attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast of New Zealand.

Jade Kahukore-Dixon, 24, had been diving off a boat in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, when he was mauled to death. He was taken to a hospital on the islands but later died from his injuries.

His dad, Jacky Dixon, said: ‘‘I couldn’t believe it. I kept picturing him when he was little. I’m not going to have my son.

‘He would do anything to protect his family. He was an amazing boy, a very much loved member of the family.’

Jade’s father told of his son’s love for fishing and diving, but this wasn’t his first encounter with a shark.

Four years ago, he narrowly escaped a shark attack after trapping his foot under a rock below the surface.

His dad continued; ‘His mate was timing him and thought ‘nah he’s gone down for too long.’

‘His mate jumped in, swam down there and Jade’s foot was stuck under a rock.

‘He couldn’t get out and his mate freed his foot and got him up and saved his life.’

Jade was a ‘well-known’ rugby player in the Chatham Islands area. He was listed as one of the island’s outstanding young players in 2018.

Monique Croon, Chatham Islands mayor, said the community is in ‘shock’ after the news of Jae’s death.

She said: ‘He’s a local boy. He’s well-known, well-liked and this will be pretty devastating for our commercial divers.

‘It’s the biggest risk – the biggest fear.’

Shark attacks in 2024

New Zealand is recognised as one of the world’s hotspots for great white sharks, with the species found in the north and south of the country.

Back in 2021, the Department of Conservation issued a warning after at least six great whites were spotted off New Zealand’s north island.

There have been more than 60 reported shark attacks in 2024.

Sharks, in particular great whites, prefer to inhabit warm waters, with California, South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand listed as particular hotspots for the species.

So far this year, 17 people have been fatally attacked by a shark – with California, Australia and New Zealand suffering the most fatalities, according to Tracking Sharks.

Shark attacks have doubled in certain holiday hotspots for Brits such as Florida, Mexico and Egypt.

A year ago, a British diver was ‘headbutted’ by a shark off the coast of Egypt in footage captured on camera, but luckily survived.

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