Young woman bitten by baby angel shark at Playa Honda beach

A young woman received a fright on Sunday afternoon after being bitten by a baby angel shark while near the shoreline at Playa Honda in Lanzarote.

The incident happened at around 4pm when the woman reportedly felt a sudden sharp bite on her leg. Witnesses said the small shark had been camouflaged beneath the sand and reacted defensively after she accidentally stepped on it.

The woman managed to free herself by kicking until the shark let go. Although she initially feared the injury might require medical treatment, the wound was ultimately minor. After washing the area with soap and water, antibiotic cream was applied to help prevent infection, and she did not need hospital treatment.

It is not the first incident of its kind in Lanzarote. Several years ago, a child was bitten by a larger juvenile angel shark while swimming near the shore at Famara beach and required medical attention.

Angel sharks, known locally as angelotes, are commonly found on the sandy seabeds around the Canary Islands. The species spends much of its time partially buried in sand with only its eyes and part of its body visible as it waits to ambush prey.

Despite belonging to the shark family, angel sharks are not generally considered dangerous to humans and attacks are extremely rare. Marine experts say the animals usually only bite when they feel threatened or are accidentally stepped on.

Swimmers are advised to take care in shallow sandy areas where angel sharks may be present by gently shuffling their feet through the sand to avoid surprising hidden marine life.