‘I’m just going to go back in for a bit’: What Austrian snorkeller, 68, killed by a shark in the Red Sea told her Egyptian partner before losing arm and leg in horrific attack – as officials CLOSE stretch of coastline around Hurghada for three days
- Austrian pensioner, 68, who had one daughter, from Kramsach, was killed near popular tourist resort in Egypt
- She was about to return home from a month holiday today with her partner when she went snorkeling in sea
- The 68-year-old said she would be back going back in for a ‘moment’ when Mako shark bit off her arm and leg
- Egyptian health official said she was taken to the private Nile Hospital where she could not be resuscitate
- The governor of the Red Sea province closed area for three days, including Hurghada, to boats and diving
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
A woman has died after a shark bit off her arm and leg at a tourist hotspot in Egypt – as authorities closes sea in the surrounding area for three days.
The Austrian pensioner was walking in shallow water while using a snorkel with fins not far from the beach near Hurghada and told her partner: ‘I’ll go back in for a moment’.
The 68-year-old from Kramsach, Tyrol had been in the country for a month with her partner, an Egyptian, and was due to return home today.
Horror footage then shows her clamouring toward safety with the aid of a flipper as the waters around her turned scarlet red in Sahl Hasheesh bay, south of Hurghada, in the Red Sea.
Terrified onlookers tried to distract the Mako shark, but no one jumped in to help her.
An Egyptian health official said she was then taken to the private Nile Hospital where she could not be resuscitated and is believed to have died from ‘painful shock’ – most likely a heart attack.
Yesterday, officials at the Red Sea Governorate told reporters that area of the attack and Hurghada would be closed to all sea activity including fishing and diving. It will most likely open tomorrow to tourists again.
The Austrian tourist, who was married to an Egyptian man, used a flipper to try and clamour back to shore. But she died of ‘painful shock’ after reportedly losing and arm and a leg
The Austrian pensioner, 68, died of ‘painful shock’ – most likely a heart attack – after the attack at Sahl Hasheesh bay, south of Hurghada, in the Red Sea on Friday
Horrified onlookers (left and right) yelled for help and tried to distract the shark, but did not jump in
Worried witnesses were pictured watching as the woman received urgent care from doctors
What is a Mako shark?
A mako shark is a species of swift, active, and potentially dangerous sharks of the mackerel shark family.
There is a shortfin and longfin species, depending on whether its open or shallow water.
Adults, prized for their fighting qualities and repeated leaps out of the water, can be 4.5 metres (14.8 feet) in length and exceed 500kg (about 1,100 pounds) in weight.
They prey on fishes such as herring, mackerel, and swordfish and small cetaceans.
Source: Britannica
After miraculously making her way back to land, doctors gave her CPR at the scene but she died minutes later in an ambulance.
Authorities closed the surrounding beaches for three days.
According to Tiroler Tageszeitung, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with relatives, including the woman’s daughter, and the local authorities
It said she was walking not far from the beach within the designated bathing when she was attacked and it was still unclear how the shark came so close to her.
Video shows witnesses on a nearby jetty record the woman’s survival attempt and comment on her predicament.
A group of Russian tourists are heard saying: ‘Where are the rescuers?
‘F***, she’s covered in blood. Holy s***.
‘Where’s the rescue team? ‘For f****’s sake.
‘Life guards? Where are the life guards? She’s going to f***ing die!’
The 68-year-old woman, who lost a leg and an arm, died shortly after being taken to the private Nile Hospital in Hurghada, an Egyptian health official said.
She was barely alive when she was taken in on Friday, the official said, adding that attempts by medical staff to resuscitate her failed.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters.
The governor of the Red Sea province closed the area for three days, banning all ‘sea activities’ including diving, snorkelling, wind surfing and kite sailing.
Fishing boats were also banned from the waters off Hurghada.
A local report quoted by Russian news agency RIA Novosti added: ‘The woman died in the ambulance from painful shock.’
The Austrian tourist was pictured clamouring toward safety as the waters around her turned scarlet red. She used a flipper to make her way back to shore
The Red Sea region around Sharm el Sheikh (pictured) is hugely popular with foreign tourists
Shark attacks in the Red Sea
In June 2021, a parasailer, a 37-year-old Jordanian man, was bit in the leg by a shark.
In December 2020, a German woman, 42, was savaged by a shark while diving in near Marsa Alam.
In October 2020 a 12-year-old Ukrainian boy on holiday in Egypt and his tour guide lost limbs after an attack by an oceanic whitetip shark.
In August 2018, a 41-year-old Czech tourist died after being attacked 12 miles north of the town of Marsa Alam.
In 2010, five shark attacks took place at Sharm el Sheikh in the same number of days.
Shark attacks in Egypt are rare – but the Red Sea has more than 44 species of the fish, some of which can be deadly.
Most common are 6ft-long grey reef sharks, which have 13 or 14 sharp teeth.
They swim in shallow waters around 60m deep or less.
In June 2021, a tandem parasailer, a 37-year-old Jordanian man, was hovering above the water in Aqaba when a shark suddenly emerged and bit his leg.
The man lost part of the back of his foot in the attack which also severed tendons, tore muscles and broke several bones.
In December 2020, a German woman was savaged by a shark while diving in the Red Sea before instructors pulled her away to safety.
The oceanic whitetip shark latched on to the woman, 42, near Marsa Alam in Egypt.
The tourist was taken to hospital where she is recovering in a ‘stable condition’, according to the Governor for the Red Sea Amr Hanafi.
In October 2020 a 12-year-old Ukrainian boy on holiday in Egypt and his tour guide lost limbs after an attack by an oceanic whitetip shark.
The pair needed amputations after the vicious incident at resort Ras Muhammad in the Red Sea.
And in 2010, five shark attacks took place at Sharm el Sheikh in the same number of days.
Three Russians, one Ukrainian and one German tourist were injured.
The German tourist, 71-year-old resort regular Renata Seifert, died of her injuries.
Source: Read Full Article
