A 64-year-old crew member of a fishing vessel has been injured after he fell overboard and was bitten by a shark off the coast of Lhaviyani Atoll Maafilaafushi.

Maldives National Defence Force MNDF said that the report of the incident came in earlier this morning and that the victim has been identified as a local man.

MNDF also said that the shark had attacked the fisherman of the 14-crew vessel after he had fallen into the water.

They also said that the MNDF Northern Area Coast Guard squadron had helped take the victim to the Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital.

MNDF had quoted the vessel's captain to confirm that the victim is in stable condition.