Tourist Dies After Losing Leg in Rare, Brutal Shark Attack

A German tourist died this week after losing her leg in a horrific, rare shark attack near the Canary Islands; the Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa known for being a popular year-round travel destination.

According to Reuters, the unidentified 30-year-old woman had been sailing on a British-flagged catamaran that had departed from the island of Gran Canaria on Saturday. She was reportedly swimming next to the boat about 110 miles west of the Western Saharan city of Dakhla when the shark struck and bit off one of her legs shortly before 4 p.m. local time.

The crew made an emergency call to the Spanish rescue service Salvamento Marítimo, which quickly worked to deploy an air force search-and-rescue helicopter from Gran Canaria, per The Guardian. The emergency service also contacted nearby vessels, with at least one offering assistance until the helicopter arrived.

Unfortunately, the rescue operation was unsuccessful, as the woman died of cardiorespiratory failure on the helicopter while it was en route to a hospital in the Gran Canaria town of Las Palmas.

An investigation has since been opened into the incident, which a spokesperson for the courts service of the Canary Islands confirmed is consistent in any case of accidental death. Though, no witnesses or emergency personnel have been called in to testify. The Guardia Civil police force also noted that it was looking into the matter.

While shark attacks are generally rare, attacks in the Canary Islands are especially unusual. In 2023 there was an uptick in worldwide attacks, with 69 unprovoked shark attacks reported along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. However, the database has recorded a total of just six shark-related incidents in Spain's history.