Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of American Woman Paddleboarding in the Bahamas

A woman from the US was tragically killed by a shark while paddleboarding in the Bahamas on Monday, as reported by local police. The 44-year-old victim, who remains unidentified, was attacked just under a mile away from the shore of New Providence island, where Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is located. Fortunately, a male relative who was with her in the water managed to escape unharmed. According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 57 unprovoked shark attacks around the world last year. During a news conference, the Royal Bahamas Police Force spokesperson, Sgt Desiree Ferguson, stated that a lifeguard from the nearby Sandals resort witnessed the incident and immediately rushed to assist. Despite efforts to save her, the victim was declared dead at the scene after being brought back to the shore and receiving CPR. Sgt Ferguson mentioned that the woman sustained severe injuries on the right side of her body, including the hip area and her upper limb. It remains uncertain what species of shark was responsible for the attack. The BBC has reached out to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for further information. Although the local Nassau Guardian newspaper newspaper reported that the woman was a newlywed, the police have not confirmed this yet. This incident follows the recent tragic death of a Mexican woman who was swimming with her young daughter and was fatally bitten on the leg by a shark on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The Bahamas has also experienced other shark encounters recently, including a case where a 47-year-old German woman went missing after encountering a shark, as reported by local authorities. In another incident that took place in June, a woman from the US had to undergo a leg amputation after being attacked by a shark while scuba diving. According to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File, there have only been around 32 recorded unprovoked shark attacks in the Bahamas since 1749. Globally, the odds of being killed by a shark are approximately 1 in 4.3 million, according to the file. In 2022, there were 57 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, along with 32 provoked ones. Surfers and individuals engaged in board sports accounted for 35% of these cases, compared to 43% for swimmers and waders.