The victim, who authorities have not identified, was a 58-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, Royal Bahamas Police Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press. “It’s unfortunate,” Skippings said. Earlier that day, the family — passengers traveling on Harmony of the Seas, a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise — booked a private snorkeling tour with a local company that took them to Green Cay off Nassau, Skippings said during a press conference. While snorkeling, family members saw what they identified as a bull shark attack the woman, Skippings said. The family notified the tour company, and then the party of about 5 to 7 people and boat operators pulled the woman from the water, authorities said. Shark bites are rare – but two just happened in the same day in SC The woman suffered injuries to her upper body. “Unfortunately, the guest died after arriving at the hospital for treatment,” a Royal Caribbean International spokesperson told the Washington Post in a statement. “Royal Caribbean International is providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones at this time.” The cruise departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about shark attacks and how to fight back if you get caught. (Video: Alice Li/The Washington Post) Despite the attention shark attacks receive each summer, they are rare. Last year, the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File investigated 137 alleged interactions people had with sharks around the world. Of these, 73 were considered unprovoked shark attack bites on humans and 39 were recorded as provoked bites. If a shark were to approach you, the Florida-based agency recommends that you maintain eye contact with the shark and move away slowly. If possible, the swimmer should leave the water. As of Tuesday afternoon, the beach where the attack happened was closed “to any kind of snorkeling,” Skippings said at the news conference. It is unclear when or if the beach will reopen, he added. Skippings did not provide details about the attack.
