Joshua Bote, USA TODAY
Published 6:19 a.m. ET July 28, 2020
CLOSE
The rate of shark attacks has grown worldwide in recent decades, according to the International Shark Attack File. Veuer’s Sam Berman has more.
Buzz60
A Maine woman was killed Monday in what officials believe to be a shark attack off the coast.
According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the woman was spotted swimming off the shore of Bailey Island by a witness, who then saw the woman sustain an injury from a shark attack.
The woman, whose identity remains unknown pending notification of her family, was rescued by two kayakers who took her to shore. First responders later arrived to the scene and pronounced her dead moments later, per a statement.
“Until further notice, swimmers and boaters are urged to use caution near Bailey Island and to avoid swimming near schooling fish or seals,” wrote the Maine Department of Marine Resources in the statement, which was posted on Facebook late Monday evening.
Experts say unprovoked shark attacks are incredibly rare. James Sulikowski, a professor at Arizona State University who studies sharks, told the Portland Press Herald that this is the first-ever unprovoked shark attack in the state.
Due to the prevalence of seals — a shark delicacy — in the area, Sulikowski also emphasized the importance of not swimming near the marine mammal.
“We can easily be mistaken for a seal … as a shark’s dinner,” he told the Portland Press Herald.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/28/maine-woman-killed-shark-attack-first-unprovoked-attack-state/5524665002/
