Italian tourist dies in Caribbean shark attack

An Italian tourist was reportedly fatally attacked by a shark off a Caribbean island.

The 56-year-old victim, identified by local media as Antonio Roseto Degli Abruzzi, was swimming near a cliff off the Colombian island of San Andrés on Friday when he was bitten in the right leg by an 8-foot tiger shark, sources say it in reports.

He died of severe blood loss, authorities said.

The incident happened in an area called “La Piscinita” — a popular snorkeling spot on the southwest side of San Andres, about 235 miles off the coast of Nicaragua and about 470 miles north of mainland Colombia.

It took place in an area with few swimmers, AFP reported, citing local media.

Instructor Mirla Zambrano said the incident was the first shark attack on a tourist in San Adres.

“We’re all very surprised,” said Zambrano, 50, according to The Daily Mirror.

A spokesman for the island’s government confirmed to the tabloid: “There are diving programs with professionals where sharks pass nearby, but nothing has ever happened.”

Marine biologist Rodrigo Lopez told The Mirror that “people are very concerned” about the incident.

“A witness said the man attacked was a good swimmer and had been in the sea for quite some time and when he went further out a second time after returning to shore he began calling for help and was surrounded by people Blood,” Lopez explained.