Woman Dies In Apparent Shark Attack In Maine
HARPSWELL, Maine (CBS) -- A woman has died after an apparent shark attack off Bailey Island, the Maine Department of Marine Resources said Monday evening.
"An eye witness reported that the woman was swimming off the shore near White Sails Lane when she was injured in what appeared to be a shark attack," said a press release.
Kayakers brought the woman to shore where first responders were waiting. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Until further notice, swimmers and boaters are urged to use caution near Bailey Island and to avoid swimming near schooling fish or seals."
This would be the second unprovoked shark attack in the state's recorded history.
New England Aquarium expert Nick Whitney said, "There are a few ways to identify what kind of shark, in these waters this time of year, I think generally the assumption is always that it's a white shark unless proven otherwise. That would be the main species that would be fairly close to shore and potentially feeding on large things such as seals."
The woman's identity has not been released at this time.
OCEARCH has tracked white sharks to the Gulf of Maine before, but more collaboration in key locations such as Massachusetts and Maine will allow us to inform local communities in a more comprehensive way.
— OCEARCH (@OCEARCH) July 28, 2020
In 2018, a 26-year-old Revere man was killed by a shark attack at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet.
"Those couple of attacks aren't enough to make a trend but it does certainly seem to be a trend that we have been seeing more white sharks in New England over the past decade or so and that's almost certainly related to the larger number of seals we've been seeing," said Whitney.