A 30-year-old German woman has died after being attacked by a shark while swimming near the Canary Islands.
The incident occurred on September 16 in the Atlantic Ocean, between the Canary Islands and West Africa.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was a crew member aboard the British-flagged Dalliance Chichester catamaran. The vessel had departed from Gran Canaria on September 14 and was approximately 319 miles south-southwest of the island and 112 miles west of Dakhla, Western Sahara, at the time of the attack.
Authorities reported that the woman was swimming beside the catamaran when the shark bit off one of her legs. Following the injury, she suffered a heart attack. Spanish search and rescue agency Sasemar coordinated with Moroccan counterparts for assistance due to their proximity, but the Moroccan services did not have the necessary rescue equipment available.
Spanish coastguards arrived from Gran Canaria, airlifting the woman to a helicopter. Despite their efforts, she succumbed to her injuries while being transported. Her body was later taken to the Doctor Negrin Hospital in Gran Canaria, where she was declared dead at 11:05 p.m. local time.
Shark attacks in the Canary Islands are rare. The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File notes only six confirmed shark-related incidents in Spain’s history. Globally, there were 69 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in 2023, with 14 resulting in fatalities.
