Horror after a man is mauled to death by a shark while diving from a boat in Chatham Islands

A commercial diver has been killed in a horrific shark attack in New Zealand.

Jade Kahukore-Dixon, 24, was mauled off the Chatham Islands, about 800km east of the South Island, around noon on Tuesday.

A police spokesman confirmed that a man has died in hospital after a shark attack. Stuff reported

“Emergency services were called around midday to reports that the man, who had dived from a boat, had been seriously injured,” he said.

‘He was rushed to Chatham Island Hospital but has since died.’

Kahukore-Dixon’s father, Jacky Dixon, said his son was a “great kid” who loved fishing and diving.

He said he had limited information about his son’s tragic death, but was told he had been killed by a great white shark.

Mr Dixon said his son was a “very tough, young guy” who “loved fishing and diving” from an early age.

Jade Kahukore-Dixon, 24 (pictured), a commercial diver was killed by a shark in the Chatham Islands, about 860 km east of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island

He said his son often saw great white sharks but was not afraid of them.

“He thought he was one with the ocean,” Dixon said.

Following the attack, Mr Kahukore-Dixon was taken to Waitangi Wharf in the Chatham Islands’ main port and largest settlement, before being rushed to hospital.

He said his son normally held his breath and hid behind rocks in the water when he saw a shark.

Mr Dixon said his son narrowly escaped death while swimming four years ago.

“His buddy was timing him and was like, ‘No, he stayed there too long,’” he said.

“His buddy jumped in, swam over there and Jade’s foot got stuck under a rock. He couldn’t get out and his buddy freed his foot, helped him up and saved his life.’

Chatham Islands Mayor Monique Croon said she knew the victim.

‘He’s a local boy. He is well known and loved and this will be quite devastating for our commercial divers,” she said NewstalkZB.

Mr Kahukore-Dixon was taken to the Waitangi Wharf in the Chatham Islands’ main port and largest settlement before being rushed to hospital. Waitangi is pictured

‘It’s the biggest risk, the biggest fear.

“I flew off the island this morning, but many in our community are divers, so everyone is in shock.”

She said the diving community rushed to Chatham Island Hospital to provide assistance.

Shark researcher Kina Scollay survived a great white shark attack while free diving off the Chatham Islands.

The Chatham Islands consist of ten islands located approximately 860 km east of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.

The islands are inhabited by almost 800 people.

Mr Scollay said the fatal accident was ‘incredibly tragic and incredibly sad’.

He said shark attacks in the waters around the Chatham Islands were rare.

The shark species involved has not yet been identified.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.