Shark That Ate Russian Man Alive to be Mummified, Displayed in Museum in Egypt

A tiger shark responsible for eating alive a Russian man named Vladimir Popov, 23, in the waters of the Red Sea near Egypt's coast last week is set to be mummified by Egyptian museum authorities.

This comes following the gruesome and bloody attack that was also captured on video and went viral. Authorities have already started the embalming process of the shark earlier this week, according to reports.

Once the process is complete, Egyptian officials will display the ocean predator in a local museum. The latest developments transpire after officials confirmed that the tiger shark caught by local fishermen was indeed the culprit behind Popov's death.

Prior to being embalmed, a mob of beachgoers beat the shark to death after it was dragged by the fishermen into the shore of the Hurghada resort town.

Tiger Shark Kills Russian Man

(Photo : Image by Simone Moreira from Pixabay)

The strongest evidence that the soon-to-be mummified shark killed Popov is that the man's body parts, including his head, chest, and arms, were found inside the marine animal. The discovery also answered the search for the victim after his lower body part washed up ashore following the Hurghada shark attack last week, near the Dream Beach Hotel, the New York Post reported.

The latest report on Tuesday, June 13, also stated the shark almost ate all of Popov's body. However, it stopped and swam away after seeing a fisherman's boat on the way to rescue the Russian man. Yet, it was already too late at that time.

In a story also covered by Nature World News last week, the video shows the 23-year-old struggling in and out of the water where a fin and tail of the shark was seen. The Russian man called for help and screamed "Papa" before being mauled to death.

The man was with his girlfriend, who escaped the site, during the attack. Popov's father, along with other tourists and beachgoers, also watched in horror while being helpless, according to reports. It is unclear whether Popov and his family were permanent residents or just tourists in Egypt.

Also Read: Scared of Shark Attack? Here's How to Survive It!

Mummified Sharks

The tiger shark is not the first of its kind to be mummified. Just like to other animals and humans, the mummification process allows the body to lessen its state of decomposition.

In a culture and religious sense, ancient Egyptians considered the sole purpose of mummification is to keep the body intact so it can make its journey into the afterlife spiritual realm. In practice, Egyptians in ancient times removed all moisture from a dead body, leaving only a dried form of the corpse that would not easily decay, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Linen is a known material used to wrap the mummy's body in a process also called bandaging or wrapping. The material is also an important commodity used for bedding, blankets, clothing, and other purposes, according to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.