Germans die after shark attack in Hawaii
The beach was closed to swimmers after the attack
Which: zoomin
A 20-year-old vacationer from northern Hesse died a week after a shark attack off Hawaii. The animal had torn off her right arm just 50 meters off the coast while snorkeling.
EA week after the shark attack on a German vacationer in Hawaii, the 20-year-old died as a result of her serious injuries. This was announced by the hospital on the island of Maui, where the young woman from northern Hesse was treated, and her family on Wednesday evening (local time).
“Jana fought hard for her life. We are very sad to announce that she lost that fight today,” the statement, written by the woman’s mother and sister, read. “Jana was a very beautiful and strong young woman who always laughed and we will always remember her that way.”
The young German was snorkeling almost 50 meters off the coast of the holiday island of Maui at the Palauea Beach when a shark ripped off her right arm. Alarmed by her cries for help, a California pastor and her friends both helped pull the seriously injured victim out of the water.
“My heart is broken”
One of the rescuers who courageously jumped into the water was Rick Moore (57). He was deeply affected by the news of his death: “My heart is broken. I’m so sorry for her family,” he said.New York Daily News“. “One wishes so much for the story to have a better ending. You can imagine her becoming completely healthy and leading a beautiful life. But in real life, stories don’t always end that way.”
In the message, the woman’s mother and sister thanked the doctors and nurses at Maui Memorial Medical Center for their sympathy around the world.
According to reports from local media, it was the eighth shark attack this year. In the past year there had been eleven incidents involving the predatory fish. The long-term average is only 4.7 attacks per year. The last death in Hawaii was in 2004.
Sharks are now to be researched
The authorities of the US state of Hawaii, meanwhile, reacted to the unusual increase in shark attacks. They want to have the occurrence of tiger sharks around Maui examined in a study over the next two years.
Hawaii State Department of Nature Chairman William Aila said the waters around Hawaii are safe if swimmers exercise caution. The prevailing belief is that more sharks and more people are swimming in the waters around Hawaii, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters.
In fact, the risk of a shark attack for humans is extremely low. The University of Florida registers around 80 unprovoked attacks by predatory fish on people worldwide every year, only a fraction of which end fatally. The fish usually let go of swimmers after a test bite.
In 2012, a total of seven people lost their lives in shark attacks. According to the shark expert, more people die every year from falling vending machines.