A German woman died on Monday after being attacked by a shark while traveling on a catamaran boat in international waters off the coast of Dakhla, according to Spanish media reports.
The woman lost a leg in the attack and was pronounced dead after being airlifted to a hospital in Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands.
Reports indicate that Spanish authorities confirmed the attack occurred approximately 447 kilometers south-southwest of Gran Canaria Airport. The boat, a British-flagged catamaran, departed from Gran Canaria on September 14.
Maritime Rescue received a distress call from the vessel Monday afternoon, reporting that one of its crew members had been attacked by a shark.
In response, the Spanish Air Force then dispatched a helicopter and a support plane to evacuate the injured woman. She was transported to Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas but was pronounced dead upon arrival at 11:05 p.m. A judge arrived shortly afterward to authorize the removal of the body.
Shark attacks are extremely rare in the Canary Islands. Historical records show only seven attacks have been noted since the 16th century.