Woman, 30, Dies After Shark Bites Off Her Leg Near Canary Islands

Mar. 15, 2025

rescue vessel.Photo:Alamy

Alamy

The 30-year-old woman— who has not been publicly identified —was traveling as a crew member on a British vessel, the Dalliance Chichester catamaran, perThe Telegraph. On Saturday, Sept. 14, the boat had sailed southbound from the Gran Canaria capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.Alamy

A spokesperson for Spain’s sea search and rescue agency, Sasemar, told CNN that the shark attack took place 319 miles south-southwest of Gran Canaria and 112 miles west of the city of Dakhla, Western Sahara. Sasemar and Spain’s emergency services contacted Moroccan counterparts for assistance since they were closer to the victim, but the Moroccan services reported they did not have appropriate rescue equipment in the area, per Deutsche Welle.

Coastguards flew from Gran Canaria to the area, evacuated her and transported her to a helicopter. But she succumbed to her injuries in the aircraft, Reuters reports.

Her body was taken to the Doctor Negrin Hospital in Gran Canaria. She was officially declared dead after her body arrived at 11:05 p.m. local time, perSky News.

stock photo of a shark.Getty

Getty

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Shark attacks near the Canary Islands are rare, and only six confirmed deaths have been recorded in that area, per theFlorida Museum of Natural History.

source: people.com