Diver killed by shark off Costa Rica coast

A dive by an American tourist who was holidaying in Costa Rica ended tragically. The woman was attacked by a tiger shark while diving with an instructor. The woman died as a result of her injuries.

According to a press release from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment, the incident took place on Thursday morning. The dive was conducted at the scenic Manuelita site, located within the Coconut Island National Park.

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The dive instructor in whose care the victim was, after spotting the predator, tried to scare it away. The animal attacked unprovoked as the pair of divers were heading to the surface and conducting a safety stop. It was at this point that the shark bit the woman’s legs and severely injured her.

The skipper remaining on the boat also tried to ward off the shark when the pair of divers surfaced. By this time, however, both the woman and the instructor had suffered serious injuries.

Notified park employees as well as medical services immediately took rescue action. Unfortunately the woman could not be helped and as a result of her injuries she soon died. The instructor’s condition was described as serious but stable.

Scientists studying the surrounding flora and fauna in 2012, recorded the presence of five tiger sharks inhabiting the waters in Isla del Coco National Park. However, a shark attack on humans has never before been recorded in the region.

Source: abcnews.go.com Photo:Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0