A Red Sea shark attack has tragically claimed the life of a woman snorkeller at St Johns Reef in the southern Red Sea. According to Egypt’s Chamber of Diving & Watersports (CDWS), the French woman was on a diving safari holiday aboard the charter vessel Lanotel, which was moored at the reef on Monday, 1 June 2009 with some other boats.
The woman was among a group of about 20 snorkellers, who were observing what was thought to be an oceanic whitetip shark, of an estimated 2.5-3m in length.
Red Sea Shark Attack: What We Know About the Oceanic Whitetip Incident
“The woman is reported to have moved away from the group and some distance from the reef, then duck-dived down towards the shark,” stated the CDWS.
“On surfacing, she was bitten on the leg and was still in contact with the shark as she was pulled onto the boat.”
“Once on the boat, the casualty lost consciousness and died soon after.”
Members of the group were interviewed by police on the boat’s return to Hamata.
The CDWS added that it was thought that recently two safari boats had been involved in shark-feeding exercises in the area.
Without stating directly that this might have had something to do with the attack, the CDWS said:
“Investigations by both the National Park and CDWS are already under way and if the allegations are found to be true, the boat operators will face severe penalties that may involve suspension from operating and heavy fines.”
“Shark feeding is a serious violation of Red Sea rules, and an act that can severely disturb the sensitive marine eco-system and behaviour of marine animals.”
The Global Shark Attack File classifies the incident as unprovoked, but Egyptian environmentalist Amr Ali suggests that it’s possible the shark was either provoked or offered food, which could have altered its behavior.
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