A woman who was in the Bahamas in a cruise ship was killed on Tuesday after she was attacked by a shark in the area, during an “independent shore excursion” while she was snorkeling in the island’s waters.
The 58-year-old Pennsylvania woman, identified by her employer Gannon University as Caroline DiPlacido, was in the popular snorkeling location near Green Cay in the Bahamas when she was suddenly attacked by the creature identified as a bull shark, according to CBS News.
The beast reportedly latched on DiPlacido, and the crew of Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas as well as her family had to struggle to free her from the teeth of the shark and push her away to safety, the New York Post reported.
“The family was reportedly snorkeling in waters and that area is known for visitors to snorkel,” the police said in a statement. “It is further reported that family members observed a bull shark attacking the female.”
She was brought to a medical facility in the mainland new Providence area to receive treatment, but ended up succumbing to her wounds and dying.
DiPlacido is survived by her mother, husband, and three children. She is well-known in her community for her work as Gannon University’s project coordinator for the Office of Community and Government Relations.
“Caroline was a powerful presence of kindness and friendship to colleagues, students, and the wider community and cherished many family ties to Gannon,” Gannon University said in a statement. “The news is devastating, and she will be missed.”
Shark attacks continue to be rare worldwide, and there have only been 32 shark attacks in the Bahamas since 1749. Despite that, marine biologist Michael Heithaus said that the shark attacks in the Bahamas can be attributed to the increasing number of people in the water in the area.
“They get to very large sizes, and they eat big prey,” he said.
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