A dad has shared his heartbreak with the world after his son was decapitated in a vicious shark attack.
On Tuesday morning, Jahmari Reid's body was discovered by authorities off the coast of Jamaica where he was said to be swimming alone.
His father, Michael Reid, said that he vanished the day prior after he embarked on a solo spearfishing expedition near the popular tourist town of Montego Bay.
The 16-year-old often went out to do this, against his father's warning, but when he failed to return home that night, the authorities were alerted.
Divers searched for the teenager and found his body decapitated, with his left arm also entirely missing. Authorities suggested that the attack may have been by a tiger shark.
When divers finally found the missing body part, they also discovered a tiger shark roaming about the area.
Authorities are hoping to recover the avid fisherman's head from the shark's stomach before it is digested.
According to a local news outlet, the Jamaican Observer, one witness said that they saw divers trying to shoot the shark in an attempt to recover all of Jahmari's remains, but they unfortunately missed.
“All of the fishermen 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,” Christopher Reynolds, one of the fishermen watching the scene unfold, said.
Speaking of his heartbreak, Michael said that he often warned his son from exploring the deep and dangerous waters alone but the warning fell on deaf ears.
“I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself yesterday (Monday) and that was the outcome. Sad to know. I feel so bad,” the heartbroken father recalled.
The cab driver said he often discouraged his son from the hobby.
"It is something that we argue about, we fight about. He’s not doing it for a worthy cause, he’s not doing it for needs or anything. It is what it is still. Can you believe it?" he added.
The boy's mother, Lavern Robinson, also shared her grief, saying: "Right now I don't know what to say. Jahmari has been going to sea from small. [He] just love it and [he] always goes out with [his] uncle [sic]. (He) was in grade 10 getting ready to go to grade 11."
It was reported that the shark was actually following a cruise ship when it spotted Jahmari in the water.
The President of Falmouth Fisherfolks Benevolent Society Fritz Christie said this was the first time in recent history that a shark has been said to have killed anyone in the Trelawny waters, as per the outlet.
“It look like when one of the ship come [sic] in a big shark follow the ship come in and it look like when the ship leave the shark did not leave the area. And the youth go [sic] out and he was attacked by the shark. It bit off his head,” Christie stated.
He advised spearfishers to proceed with the hobby with extreme caution.
"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," Christie added.
As Christie mentioned, shark attacks are extremely rare but they can be extremely fatal, just like in this case. The creatures often mistake humans for other creatures, pushing their predator instincts into action.
Our thoughts are with Jahmari's loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
