The death of a 30-year-old German woman from a shark attack near the Canary Islands has raised significant concerns and questions. The victim was reportedly on a British pleasure boat when the attack occurred.
Spanish officials are investigating the incident and plan to interview the crew of the boat to gather more information. The attack happened off the coast of the Canary Islands, a region known for its popular tourist spots and various water activities.
The investigation aims to understand the circumstances leading up to the attack, including any potential factors that might have contributed to the shark’s aggressive behavior. This incident highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and safety measures for those engaging in water-based activities in areas where sharks are known to inhabit.
Spanish officials are investigating the death of a 30-year-old German woman who was killed in a shark attack off the Canary Islands. The woman was reportedly on a British-flagged pleasure boat when she was bitten by a shark, resulting in the loss of her leg.
The investigation will include interviewing the crew of the pleasure boat to understand the circumstances surrounding the attack. At this stage, her death is not considered suspicious, and preliminary reports suggest that she may have been attacked while swimming in the sea.
The investigation into the shark attack that killed a 30-year-old German woman has been assigned to Court of Instruction Number Six in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. The investigating judge is expected to remain silent on the matter while the probe is ongoing.
Following the attack, the woman was airlifted to hospital by a Spanish Air Force helicopter but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.
The German woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Doctor Negrin Hospital in Las Palmas on Monday night. She suffered a severe shark attack in international waters, approximately 278 miles southwest of Gran Canaria’s airport and 110 miles east of Dakhla.
The pleasure boat, named Dalliance Chichester, had departed Gran Canaria on a leisure trip and issued a Mayday signal around 3:55 PM on Monday. Spanish Coastguards responded by alerting nearby vessels and dispatching medicines to the catamaran. Moroccan authorities were also notified, but they declined to transfer the injured woman to Rabat, citing a lack of resources. The Spanish Coastguards ultimately took responsibility for the medical evacuation.
This incident marks an unusual occurrence in a region where there have been no documented previous shark attacks.
In June, holiday beaches on Gran Canaria’s east coast were closed due to shark sightings. Local police confirmed through drone footage that one of the sharks was a 10ft-long hammerhead. While most hammerhead species are considered relatively harmless to humans with few recorded attacks, their size and aggressive hunting nature can make them potentially dangerous. Hammerheads can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 lbs.