A diver has been killed in brutal shark attack after a predator 'ripped his head and shoulders off'.
The grisly attack was the first fatal shark incident of this year and occurred on January 5 in Bahia de Tobari, Mexico.
Manuel Lopez was diving in the area, also known as Tobari Bay, when the great white measuring six metres, attacked him.
He reportedly had no air tank and was using air from above the water as he went scallop diving.
Spokesman Jose Bernal said: “He was diving when the animal attacked him, impressively ripping off his head and biting both shoulders.
“Local divers had been warned about the presence of sharks in the area and most had not been out for several days.”
Lopez is understood to have ignored warnings as he needed to make cash from the shellfish.
Divers and fishermen give the local government a yearly fishing fee of around £309 (7,200 pesos) to fish the area.
Experts at Tracking Sharks said: “Great white sharks are most prevalent in the Gulf of California (where the attack happened) during December and January when pregnant female sharks enter the area.
“The sharks will often search for fat-filled sea lions to feed upon due to their high caloric count.
“Several anglers have stated that they have inadvertently caught sea lions in their fishing nets, and in several cases when they have a sea lion, great white sharks will often approach their boats as they are pulling in their nets.”
The bay was closed for 24 hours after the attack.
