The Las Palmas court has officially closed the investigation into the tragic death of a 30 year old German woman attacked by a shark while swimming in open waters, 514 kilometres from the Canary Islands.
The incident occurred on September 16, 2024, when the woman was swimming near the boat ‘Dalliance Chichester’ at 180 kilometres west of Dajla (Sahara) with others. Despite the best efforts to airlift her to Gran Canaria, she died during the helicopter transport.
Shark attack confirmed as cause of death
Authorities confirmed that the woman’s injuries were consistent with a shark attack. This rare encounter happened far from the Canary Islands, in waters outside the jurisdiction of the Spanish archipelago. According to reports, the shark attack occurred while the woman was taking part in a sailing trip with other companions.
The court’s decision to close the investigation came after an autopsy. Specialists confirmed that the woman’s fatal wounds were caused by the shark. There was no evidence of foul play or negligence from her fellow passengers. These arguments led the court to dismiss any further inquiry into the case.
Rare but not unprecedented
Although shark attacks are infrequent in the Canary Islands and surrounding waters, this tragic incident marks one of the most high-profile attacks in recent years. As stated by local authorities, shark encounters near the islands are extremely rare, but this incident took place far from the usual tourist areas.
Further information and international media coverage
According to media reports, including those from international outlets like CBS News, the shark attack took place during a leisure trip in the Atlantic. The woman’s death is one of only a few recorded shark-related fatalities in the region.
Despite the tragic event, shark attacks in European waters remain uncommon. Experts maintain that the risk to swimmers remains minimal in the region’s coastal waters.