On Monday, December 4, a shark attack in the Bahamas resulted in the death of a woman from Boston.
The 44-year-old, whose name has not been released pending family notification, was paddle-boarding with a male relative by a resort in New Providence Island near the capital Nassau, when the attack occurred. The incident happened around 11:15 a.m. approximately three-quarters of a mile from shore.
According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the woman was attacked by a shark, sustaining severe injuries to the right side of her body, including her hip and upper limb. A lifeguard on duty witnessed the attack and quickly responded, bringing both the woman and the man to shore in a rescue boat. Despite immediate CPR efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is not an isolated event in the Bahamas. In addition to this attack, at least two other fatal shark attacks have been reported recently in the region. In November, a 47-year-old German woman went missing during a diving excursion off Grand Bahama after encountering a shark. Earlier, in September 2022, a 58-year-old American woman was killed in a shark attack while snorkeling with her family in New Providence.
Experts highlight that shark attacks often result from sharks mistaking humans for prey. The Bahamas, a major tourist destination, has seen an uptick in such incidents. With so many people in the water, sharks are getting acclimated to humans and less cautious, prompting increased safety measures and awareness.
