Through a press release, the Ministry of Environment in Costa Rica provided additional information regarding the death of US tourist yesterday (Nov. 30) as a result of the attack of tiger shark while she was diving in Isla del Coco in the Pacific of Costa Rica.

According to the information, the woman, 49-years-old and of last name Bhandari was scuba diving in the area known as Manuelita in the Isla del Coco National Park along with a scuba diving instructor, a 26-year-old Costa Rican of last name Jimenez, both divers were attacked by the tiger shark, apparently a female (as reported by the instructor), as they were making their way back to a safety stop.

When Jimenez noticed the shark heading their way he tried to scare her off, however, the animal got hold of the tourist’s legs and by the time they were reaching the surface the lacerations were evident in both her legs. The man waiting on the boat tried to help the instructor fight the shark back, however, the dive master also suffered severe injuries in his legs, the park rangers arrived shortly after to provide assistance to both victims.

Several doctors that were also in the area in a scuba diving tour helped in the emergency, unfortunately the injuries suffered by the woman where too serious and she quickly passed away.

Bhandari was part of a group of 18 tourists that arrived to the Island with the tourism company Undersea Hunter Group, which has been organizing tours to this National park for many years, sales manager, Alan Steenstrup said they were “shocked” by what happened and they are focused on the communication with the family and the authorities. The company has the corresponding insurance policies.

For the time being the company will not offer declarations to the press unless they receive authorization from the victim’s family.

As informed by one of the readers of The Costa Rica Star, Bhandari was an experienced diver.

This is the first incident of this kind to take place in Isla del Coco.

This species of shark returned to the waters of Isla del Coco in the year 2012, after almost 30 years of not been seen in this area. The tiger shark (galeocerdo cuvier) receive this name because of the tiger-like stripes on juveniles, and it is known to be a voracious hunter they can reach a size of 10 to 14 feet and can weight anywhere from 850 to 1,400 pounds, the size relative to a 6 foot man.

According to National Geographic, “These large, blunt-nosed predators have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people. But because they have a near completely undiscerning palate, they are not likely to swim away after biting a human, as great whites frequently do”.