A rare and tragic incident occurred on September 16, 2024, when a German tourist lost her life following a shark attack in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 300 miles south of the Canary Islands. The 30-year-old woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was aboard a British-registered catamaran named Dalliance Chichester when the attack took place.
The Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain, are renowned for their subtropical climate and diverse marine ecosystems. Located off the northwestern coast of Africa, this volcanic archipelago consists of seven main islands and is a popular tourist destination. Despite the abundance of marine life, shark attacks in the region are extremely uncommon.
Spanish authorities promptly responded to the emergency call made by the catamaran's crew at 3:55 PM. The incident occurred about 100 miles from Dakhla, a city in Western Sahara, a disputed territory over which Morocco claims sovereignty. After Morocco's coastguard reported unavailability of resources in the area, Spanish officials mobilized an air force search-and-rescue helicopter and a supporting military plane from Gran Canaria.
The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the remote location of the incident. A nearby vessel responded to the coastguard's alert, providing medical supplies to the catamaran. The rescue helicopter reached the scene around 8:05 PM, approximately four hours after the attack. Despite the victim still being alive when winched aboard, she tragically suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during the flight to a hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
This incident marks a grim milestone as the first confirmed fatal shark attack in the waters near the Canary Islands, according to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History. The database records only six confirmed shark incidents in the area, with a seventh considered probable. The closest previously documented shark attack occurred in the Cape Verde archipelago.
The Spanish Air Force, which operates search and rescue missions in the region, played a crucial role in this operation. Their efforts highlight the challenges of emergency response in remote maritime locations. The Canary Islands, home to several marine protected areas, continue to be a subject of study for marine biologists and conservationists.
As investigations continue, this rare incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of marine environments, even in areas where such occurrences are historically uncommon. The tragedy has prompted discussions about safety measures for tourists engaging in offshore activities in the region.