A 26-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries after a shark attack on the morning of December 2, 2023, at Melaque Beach, west of Manzanillo, Mexico.
Maria Fernandez Martinez Jimenez, the victim, was enjoying a swim with her five-year-old daughter in a coastal aquatic park when the shark struck. Witnesses observed Jimenez approaching a play platform around 75 feet offshore when the shark attacked her upper leg. Despite the grave situation, she succeeded in placing her daughter safely on the platform, who remained unharmed.
An immediate response from beachgoers and local authorities ensued. However, Jimenez’s life could not be saved, largely due to the significant blood loss caused by the severe wound near her hip, where the shark had completely severed her leg.
Following the incident, a video showing the aftermath on Melaque Beach circulated on social media, where Jimenez was seen receiving first aid after being rescued.
The local government in Melaque and the adjacent Barra de Navidad took swift action, closing beaches to swimmers and issuing warnings.
The University of Guadalajara, where Jimenez previously studied marine biology, offered its condolences, remembering her passion for marine life.
