A US woman was killed by a shark while paddleboarding in the Bahamas less than a mile off the coast of New Providence island,which is home to the capital of Nassau.
According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 57 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide last year.
Sgt Desiree Ferguson, a spokesman for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, told reporters during a press conference Monday that a lifeguard at the neighbouring Sandals resort observed the event and raced out to aid.
The sufferer was taken back to shore and CPR was performed, but died at the site.
She had "serious injuries to the right side of her body, including the hip region and also her right upper limb," according to Sgt Ferguson.
The type of shark that attacked the woman is unknown. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has been contacted for comment.
According to the Nassau Guardian, a local jet ski operator, the woman was a newlywed, however, authorities have not verified this.
The event occurred only days after a Mexican mother swimming with her young daughter on the country's Pacific coast was murdered after being bitten in the leg by a shark.
Several additional recent occurrences have occurred in the Bahamas.
According to local authorities, a 47-year-old German woman went missing last month after confronting a shark. In another instance in June, a Scuba diver from the United States had to have her leg amputated after being attacked by a shark.
According to the International Shark Attack File, only around 32 unprovoked shark attacks have been documented in the Bahamas since 1749.
The chances of being killed by a shark are around 1 in 4.3 million worldwide, according to the file.
In 2022, there were 57 verified unprovoked shark attacks and 32 provoked attacks worldwide. Surfers and those active in board spots accounted for 35% of the incidents, while swimmers and waders accounted for 43%.