The incident occurred on Sunday at Miljenko and Dobrila beach in Kaštel Lukšić. The young man sustained a bleeding wound on his back, and swimmers are again in panic over the protected marine species that won't give up.
Sunday afternoon at Miljenko and Dobrila beach in Kaštel Lukšić was marked by another attack by a loggerhead sea turtle. On August 9, the animal, weighing around 70 kilograms, approached a young man from behind and bit him on the lower back, leaving a bleeding wound. This is already the fifth recorded bite since July 22, and concern among swimmers is growing.
The mother of the injured young man told the Kaštela City Portal that the turtle attacked without any provocation. "The turtle approached the young man from behind and bit him on the lower back, causing a bleeding wound. This situation has been going on for some time and has become truly concerning," she said. She added that the animal attacks even when no one touches or disturbs it, which is especially worrying because it often lingers in the shallows, close to people.
After the bite, the family called emergency services at 112, and medical staff recommended that the young man go to the emergency room and receive a tetanus shot. The head of the emergency unit in Kaštel Stari, Dr. Antonija Žanić, warned that such injuries should not be underestimated. "This is not a simple scratch that can be disinfected at home. A bite can cause serious tissue damage, and any such wound carries a risk of infection," she emphasized.
A female reader who was in the water at the time of the attack, just five meters from the young man, confirmed the incident. "My husband and I were only five meters away from him, in deeper water. Unfortunately, the turtle continued its attacks, and we really no longer feel comfortable in the sea. We had all finally relaxed, thinking it was gone, but here it is again," she recounted.
Experts cite two possible reasons for this behavior. The first is defense – the turtle may react if a person gets too close or tries to touch it. The second is feeding – if people throw food to turtles in the sea, they eventually associate humans with food and approach them on their own. This could explain why this particular individual stays in that area and approaches even those who do not touch it.
The loggerhead sea turtle is a strictly protected species in the Adriatic, and citizens are aware that they must not harm it. Nevertheless, frustration is growing because "the turtle frequently stays in the same area, surfaces in the immediate vicinity of swimmers, and approaches them from behind," as the mother of the injured young man warned. According to unofficial estimates, the animal could weigh up to 70 kilograms.
The Kaštela City Portal has contacted the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition seeking an official statement on possible measures, but no response has yet arrived. Since this is a protected species in its natural habitat, unofficial information suggests that relocating the animal will likely not be an option. Until a final decision is made by the relevant authorities, swimmers are advised to exercise extra caution when entering the sea and to avoid swimming in areas where the animal has previously been spotted.
