Tourist killed in Sharm el Sheikh shark attack

A German woman has been killed by a shark while snorkeling off Sharm El Sheikh; the latest in a series of shark attacks in the popular tourist resort.

The woman, who was in her 70s, was mauled to death just one day after Sharm El Sheik re-opened its beaches; following the capture of two sharks believed to have attacked two Russian snorkelers last week.

According to security officials, the 70 year old woman died quickly following the attack, in which her arm and thigh were repeatedly mauled.

Although two white tip sharks were captured following three attacks in the previous week, conservationists said the sharks did not match the description of the perpetrator.

The attacks — which have been described by officials and shark experts as ‘unprecedented’ — are thought to be linked to the nearby dumping of dead sheep by an Australian cargo ship, which could have attracted the sharks to the area.

Overfishing has also been cited as a potential contributory factor, as depleted fish stocks in the area may have led sharks to seek an alternative food source.

All beaches around the resort have now been closed until the situation can be fully assessed by marine experts.