Pepino Fappani, 69, was swimming out to help EU diplomat Gianluca Di Gioia when the shark started to attack him, with the animal having already savaged its first victim
A tourist has described the moment he fought off a shark by jabbing his middle finger in its eye just moments after it savagely attacked another swimmer.
Retired Italian dentist Pepino Fappani, 69, had been swimming in the Red Sea near the five-star Sataya Marsa Alam resort in Egypt on December 29 when the attack happened. He was attacked when he rushed out further to sea to assist Gianluca Di Gioia, an EU diplomat from Rome who had been snorkelling that day.
Mr Fappani recalled seeing the man holding onto a buoy and had no idea that the shark had already sunk its teeth into him and was circling below. He shared his incredible story of survival after returning to his home in Soncino, in northern Italy at the weekend.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Fappani said: “I saw the wife, who was yellowing and coming toward the dock. I didn’t understand what was happening but I was the closest one.”
As he swam out and got within just yards of Di Gioia, he said: “I was about five metres from him and then ‘bm.” And the attack was devastating.”
Despite the shark turning on him, Mr Fappani recalled a guide once told him to go for the animal’s eyes if ever attacked. He then jabbed his middle finger into the shark’s left eye and said it backed off.
He ended up needing dozens stitches to his right leg as well as his right hand and arm but said he was healing well following treatment in Egypt and Italy. Mr Fappani added: “My vacation was cut tragically short, but I survived. I am just very sorry for Gianluca Di Gioia, who didn’t make it.”
He claimed to have gotten a good look at the shark and claimed it was a tiger shark. Mr Di Gioia was pulled from the water but he later died due to the severity of his injuries.
Egyptian authorities have since launched an investigation into the shark attack. They claimed Di Gioia was attacked after he left the designated swimming area.
But Mr Fappani said the group was swimming in what he called a designated safe area and that there were no anti-shark nets in place. The Mirror has contacted the Sataya Marsa Alam resort for comment.
The Red Sea is known for having numerous sharks although attacks are relatively rare. The attack was similar to an incident in June 2023 where a Russian national was killed by a tiger shark in the Red Sea.
Vladimir Popov, 23, had been swimming when he was savagely attacked by the tiger shark near Hurghada. Onlookers watched on in horror as the water turned red with his blood during the attack.
