Bahamas shark attack: PA woman killed while snorkeling, police say

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• The night footage might put you off ever swimming in the sea again
• This gay man had to flee Ghana after a violent attack. He’s finally been granted asylum

Overall, at least 32 shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1749 and 13 attacks in Cuba during that time period, including one in 2019, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File. Most shark attacks in the Caribbean occur in the Bahamas, although a rare shark attack was reported in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin three years ago. While the cruise ship was docked in Nassau, the family booked an excursion with a local tour company that took them to a popular snorkeling area, she said. During a press conference on Sept. 6, Royal Bahamas Police Force Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said that sometime around 2 p.m., DiPlacido's family witnessed her being attacked by a bull shark. They were unable to fend off the shark before it inflicted "serious injuries to the left side of her body."

Was Cameron Robbins killed by a SHARK after he jumped off cruise ship? - Daily Mail

Was Cameron Robbins killed by a SHARK after he jumped off cruise ship?.

Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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The newlywed who was killed by a shark while paddleboarding in the Bahamas was identified Tuesday as a beloved math specialist from Massachusetts. Bull sharks are also tolerant of fresh water and are frequently sighted in larger freshwater rivers, but interactions with humans are rare in freshwater areas. When snorkeling, it is best to not overestimate one’s swimming abilities, and to always remain with a group and close to the boat if possible, in case of any emergency situation. Other comments reinforced viewers’ intention to not swim in the ocean and stick strictly to man-made pools to avoid encountering sharks. Gavin Naylor, program director of the International Shark Attack File in Florida, said in an interview that there have been a couple of shark-related fatalities reported in the Bahamas in the past five years. There has been much speculation about what happened to the Louisiana teenager since his disappearance, which took place after he dived into the water - allegedly as a dare - during a sunset pirate-themed cruise aboard the ship.

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"So he's looking at whatever popped up out of the water, and instead of swimming toward the life ring he turns around at that point. Then, he disappeared beneath the surface and hasn’t been seen again, leading some to believe that he might have been attacked by a shark. Many of the bites happen when humans are swimming in or near large schools of prey fish. Sharks may also bite because they feel threatened and are just trying to defend themselves. The passenger, a mother in her 50s who was onboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Harmony of the Seas, was attacked in Green Cay, off the coast of Nassau, according to Royal Bahamas Police Force Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings. Royal Caribbean confirmed the tourist's death in a statement provided to NBC News.

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Royal Caribbean International said in a statement to the AP that the person died after arriving at a local hospital for treatment and that the company is helping their loved ones. They said the guest was participating in an independent shore excursion in Nassau and had been sailing on Harmony of the Seas, which is on a seven-night trip after departing Florida on Sunday. "While on an independent shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas, a guest sailing on Harmony of the Seas experienced injuries from a shark," the statement reads. "After arriving at a local hospital for treatment, the guest passed away from their injuries. Royal Caribbean is providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time." Royal Caribbean International said in a statement to the AP that the woman died after arriving at a local hospital for treatment and that the company is helping her loved ones.

The night footage might put you off ever swimming in the sea again

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Popular Bahamas Shore Excursion Shuts Down After Shark Bite.

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The woman has not been identified publicly by authorities, but Gannon University, a private Catholic school in Erie, Pennsylvania, identified her as alumna and current university employee Caroline DiPlacido. The university said she was the project coordinator for the Office of Community and Government Relations on the Erie campus. Although typically rare, Van Wart’s death marks the second deadly shark attack in the Bahamas in just under two weeks. A lifeguard who witnessed the horrifying attack rescued the pair in a boat and brought them back to shore, where CPR was administered to the woman.

She was paddleboarding with a man who was not injured, according to Police Sgt. Desiree Ferguson. The Coast Guard called off its own search two days later, after reportedly scouring over 325 square miles. Robbins was last seen splashing in the dark, “shark-infested” waters a few feet from the boat, before vanishing from view. The Coast Guard called off its own search two days later, after reportedly scouring over 325 square miles.

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That was when out of nowhere, sharks came into view of the GoPro camera and one quickly darted into the camera night light, before swimming off quickly. Robbins was in the Bahamas with his friends for a holiday after graduation when he disappeared, and McMurray has analysed the footage of his last moments, believing that there might have been a shark in the water. A shark expert has given his thoughts on what might have happened during the last moments of Cameron Robbins, who was last seen jumping off a boat in the Bahamas, before disappearing beneath the dark water. The beach where the attack happened has been closed, authorities said, and the incident is under investigation. Soon after the attack, DiPlacido's family and an operator of the excursion company pulled her aboard and took her to the closest docking facility. "Caroline was a powerful presence of kindness and friendship to colleagues, students, and the wider community and cherished many family ties to Gannon," the university said.

The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is found worldwide, most often in shallow, warm, coastal waters. Measuring an average of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and weighing as much as 290 pounds (131 kilograms), the shark is known for its aggressive nature. They are a highly territorial species with little tolerance for being disturbed.

Robbins disappeared three days after his graduation from University Laboratory School. According to witnesses, the teen — who was apparently acting on a dare — took a plunge off a party cruise into the ocean near Athol Island at night. Cameron Robbins, 18, graduated from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge in May and was on a trip to the Bahamas with students from several local high schools.

The majority of shark attacks in the Caribbean have occurred in the Bahamas, with two reported in 2019, one of them fatal. That incident involved a Southern California woman who was on vacation and was attacked by three sharks near Rose Island, located just a half mile from where Tuesday's attacked occurred. In December 2020, a fatal shark attack was reported in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin, the first such incident in that region. Overall, at least 32 shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1749, a number followed by 13 attacks in Cuba during that time period, including one in 2019, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File. He said the Bahamas has a variety of shark species, the majority of which do not pay attention to people, except for bull sharks and tiger sharks. "They get to very large sizes, and they eat big prey," Heithaus said, adding that sharks have incredible sensory systems and can be attracted to food, sounds and smells in the water.

Some thought the massive shark was a prehistoric megalodon, but commenters on the video said it was most likely a basking shark, which is not usually aggressive to humans, according to the Florida Museum. Last year, viral footage showed the moment a young man jumped off a cruise ship in the Bahamas for a dare before and was allegedly preyed upon by sharks. In the video, after lowering the camera in the water while the cruise ship is anchored, viewers were initially happy to see a school of fish perplexed at the foreign object that had dropped into their neck of the woods. Police said a lifeguard rescued both people with a boat upon seeing what was happening, but the woman suffered serious injuries to the right side of her body and was declared dead at the scene despite CPR efforts. A female tourist from Boston was killed Monday by a shark while paddleboarding in the Bahamas, police told reporters. It's unclear why sharks bite, but experts say many attacks are “cases of mistaken identity,” occurring under conditions of poor water visibility, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

A police superintendent did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment. Last year, there were 73 confirmed unprovoked shark attack cases worldwide, including 47 in the United States, which has the most documented unprovoked bites in the world, according to the Shark Attack File. “Royal Caribbean is providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time,” a statement from the cruise line said. Harmony of the Seas is currently on a seven-night cruise after sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday. The International Shark Attack File, a database of all known shark attacks, shows that only 32 shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1949.

Cruise operator Royal Caribbean International said in a statement that they are "providing support and assistance to the guest's loved ones during this difficult time." People on the cruise ship begin to shout and call for the man to go to the lifesaver, only for someone to remark that the man is no longer visible. Authorities are still searching for a 47-year-old German woman who went missing late last month after she apparently was attacked while diving. Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort confirmed in a statement that Van Wart was a guest at the all-inclusive spot, where standard rooms cost around $600 per night. However, Van Wart suffered “serious injuries to the right side of her body,” including her hip area and her upper limb, and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.