During a news broadcast by Reuters, Royal Bahamas police said that a woman from Boston tragically lost her life in the Bahamas after being attacked by a shark while paddle boarding with a family member.
The incident took place at a resort about three-quarters of a mile away from the shore.
Royal Bahamas Police Force Spokesperson Sergeant Desiree Ferguson reported that a lifeguard, who witnessed the attack, promptly came to their aid on a boat to rescue them. Despite administering CPR to the victim, she suffered severe injuries on the right side of her body, including the hip region and upper limb. Unfortunately, the unnamed victim was declared dead by emergency responders, as they could not detect any vital signs.
This incident occurred shortly after a 26-year-old woman tragically lost her life in Mexico due to a shark bite while swimming with her young daughter.
While shark attacks are uncommon in the Bahamas, there have been several reported cases in recent months. Last month, a 47-year-old German woman disappeared while diving off West End, Grand Bahama, following an encounter with a shark, according to Reuters and local authorities. In June, a woman from Iowa was attacked by a shark during a scuba diving expedition in the Bahamas, which resulted in the amputation of her leg.
A 58-year-old woman from Pennsylvania was tragically killed by a shark while snorkeling near Green Cay in the Bahamas in September 2022. She was a passenger on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship and was participating in an excursion at a popular location. The shark responsible for the attack was identified as a bull shark. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, she sadly did not survive.
The East Coast and Caribbean Sea are home to over 50 shark species, which include tiger, hammerhead, and Caribbean reef sharks, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Data from the International Shark Attack File reveals that there were 108 alleged incidents of shark-human interactions worldwide in 2022. The United States had the highest number of confirmed unprovoked attacks, with a total of 41 incidents. Among the U.S. states, Florida experienced the most attacks, with 16 reported cases.
