Attaque Requin Canaries: A Tragic Incident Unfolds in the Atlantic

Details of the Shark Attack Incident

A 30-year-old German woman tragically died on Monday evening after being attacked by a shark while approximately 500 kilometers from the Spanish Canary Islands. The attack occurred while she was catamaran sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, 278 miles south-west of Gran Canaria. During her outing, a shark bit off one of her legs, sparking immediate rescue efforts.

Rescue Efforts and Medical Evacuation

Spanish rescue services were alerted at 14:55 to perform a medical evacuation. Following consultations with Moroccan authorities, they decided to deploy a helicopter and an army plane to assist the catamaran crew. Unfortunately, the victim suffered a cardiac arrest during the evacuation and was airlifted to an area hospital around 20:00, where she was pronounced dead despite ongoing efforts to save her.

Shark Attack Statistics in 2023

This type of incident remains extremely rare in the region, where shark attacks are generally infrequent. However, a recent study published in February by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) from Florida University noted an increase in shark attacks in 2023, with 69 unprovoked bites reported globally, up from 63 in 2022. The United States accounted for over half of these incidents, leading to 10 fatalities across various locations.

Understanding the Attack Types

ISAF differentiates between “unprovoked” attacks—where bites occur without voluntary human interaction—and “provoked” attacks, which are initiated by humans intentionally approaching sharks or swimming in areas with bait present.