An unidentified fish suspected to be a shark on Saturday attacked three people in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh.

A man fishing nearby came to rescue Tuan, who later had to undergo a two-hour surgery at the local Army Medical Hospital No.13.

Tuan said the fish had grey and rough skin, and looked like it weighed 20-30 kilograms.

Mang Duc Hanh, another staff member of the university, meanwhile, was attacked at around 5 p.m. the same day when he was bathing in the same area off Quy Nhon Town.

Hanh was also bitten twice on his right wrist, damaging arteries and nerves. He was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital from the local Binh Dinh General Hospital on Monday morning due to critical nature of his injuries.

“The fish’s skin was a bit smooth and weighed around 35-40 kilograms. I’m absolutely sure it was a shark,” Hanh told Thanh Nien.

The fish was also reported to attack a local woman, causing minor injuries to her.

Since last July around ten people have fallen victim to the fish at Quy Nhon beach.

Thai Ngoc Bich, chairman of Quy Nhon town’s People’s Committee, said the fish was likely to be a shark, stressing that they would take actions, including offering a reward to those who could catch it.

Reported by Dinh Phu