A TOURIST has tragically died in a horrific shark attack after a predator severed her leg while she was aboard a British boat near the Canary Islands.
The woman, 30 years old and from Germany, passed away in a Spanish Air Force helicopter while being airlifted to the hospital in Gran Canaria.
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A woman was fatally attacked by a shark while sailing on a catamaranCredit: Solarpix
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She died in a Spanish coastguard helicopter
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She was pronounced dead after the helicopter arrived back in Gran CanariaCredit: Getty
She was declared dead upon arrival at Doctor Negrin Hospital in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria, late last night.
Reports indicate that she had her leg bitten off by the shark while on a catamaran off the coast of Western Sahara.
The catamaran, identified as the British-flagged Dalliance Chichester, had departed the Canaries on September 14.
Spanish coastguard authorities communicated with their UK counterparts due to the catamaran’s British registration.
Local reports claim that Moroccan officials declined to transport the injured woman to Rabat for urgent medical care.
The unidentified woman was pronounced dead just after 11 PM after suffering cardiac arrest in the Spanish military helicopter.
The attack is believed to have occurred around 4 PM that same day.
The Dalliance Chichester issued a Mayday distress call at approximately 3:55 PM yesterday.
In response, Spanish coastguards notified nearby vessels about the emergency situation.
One of those vessels approached the Dalliance Chichester to provide medical assistance to the injured woman.
She was airlifted by the Spanish Air Force helicopter shortly after 8 PM.
The circumstances surrounding the attack have yet to be clarified this evening.
No previous documented shark attacks have occurred in the area where yesterday’s incident took place.
The Dalliance Chichester is a pleasure craft measuring 17 meters long and 8 meters wide.