SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A feminine vacationer from Boston was killed Monday by a shark whereas paddleboarding within the Bahamas, police advised reporters.

The sufferer, who was not recognized, was attacked lower than a mile off the western finish of New Providence island, the place the capital, Nassau, is situated. She was paddleboarding with a person who was not injured, in keeping with Police Sgt. Desiree Ferguson.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences…for this most unfortunate situation,” she stated.

Police stated a lifeguard rescued each folks with a ship upon seeing what was taking place, however the lady suffered critical accidents to the fitting facet of her physique and was declared useless on the scene regardless of CPR efforts.

It was not instantly clear what sort of shark attacked the girl. A police superintendent didn’t instantly reply to a message requesting remark.

Gavin Naylor, program director of the International Shark Attack File in Florida, stated in an interview that there have been a few shark-related fatalities reported within the Bahamas up to now 5 years.

He famous that the Bahamas has a “huge” vacationer inhabitants, including that there are lots of people within the water and a variety of guests who need to view sharks from a fishing boat or dive with them.

“So the sharks get acclimated, and the animals are a little bit less cautious than they otherwise might be,” he stated.

Between 30 to 40 shark species stay across the Bahamas, though the Caribbean reef shark, the bull shark, the tiger shark and the black tip shark have the very best chunk frequency, Naylor stated.

“Usually, it’s an accidental bite. They think it’s something else,” he stated. “Once in a while, they’ll actually single out people, and it’s very intentional.”

Fatal shark assaults are uncommon, with solely a median of 5 to 6 reported worldwide a 12 months, most of them occurring in Australia, Naylor stated. Last 12 months, there have been a complete of 57 unprovoked bites across the globe, the vast majority of them within the U.S., in keeping with the International Shark Attack File.

At least 33 confirmed unprovoked shark assaults have been reported within the Bahamas since 1580, with the island rating ninth worldwide, in keeping with the file.

The Nassau Guardian newspaper reported that authorities within the Bahamas are nonetheless looking for a German lady who went lacking late final month after she was apparently attacked whereas diving.

Last 12 months, a shark killed a U.S. cruise ship passenger from Pennsylvania who was snorkeling within the northern Bahamas close to Green Cay.

Most shark assaults within the Caribbean happen within the Bahamas, though a uncommon shark assault was reported within the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin three years in the past.