News Services
Published: Monday, May 26

ACAPULCO, Mexico / One surfer was killed and another narrowly escaped death after two shark attacks off the Pacific coast of Mexico this weekend, officials said Sunday.

A 21-year-old Mexican student, Aldo Mata, was killed Friday in the Zihuatanejo area, north of Acapulco, and a day later U.S. surfer Bruce Grimes, 49, was attacked off Playa Linda beach near Zihuatanejo. It was the third in the last month.

Officials blame the new influx of sharks in the area on climate change. "We brought shark specialists to the area and the first thing they said was that (the animals' presence) could be because of cold water currents caused by climate change," said Guerrero state's environment minister, Sabas de la Rosa.