Washington woman, 60, who disappeared off the coast of Hawaii “was eaten by an aggressive shark that was spotted in a ‘red cloud’ of water,” the disappearance report concludes
- The woman went missing December 8 while snorkeling with her husband
- Witnesses recall seeing an aggressive shark swimming in a pool of red water after the woman disappeared from her husband’s view
- Authorities have not released the identity of the woman or her husband
The 60-year-old Washington state woman who disappeared while snorkeling in Hawaii on Dec. 8 was likely killed by an aggressive shark, according to an update from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Investigators came to their conclusion after questioning beachgoers who reported seeing a large shark that appeared to be feeding on something in a pool of red water – although no body has yet been recovered.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the 60-year-old woman and her husband.
The couple were on vacation in Maui, Hawaii, snorkeling about 50 meters off Keawakapu Point when tragedy struck by an “aggressive shark,” according to a report from the dead woman’s husband.
Rescuers are searching for the missing woman, who is believed to have been eaten by a shark off the coast of Maui, Hawaii
Witnesses reported seeing an “aggressive” tiger shark circling and shouted at the late woman’s husband to get out of the water because the shark was nearby
“He and his wife didn’t snorkel right next to each other and he only got to see them every now and then. As the shark continued to circle him, he continued to search for his wife … popped his head out of the water and scanned the surface,” officials said.
The husband “spyed something in the distance and then the shark came back and he could see something red around the shark’s gills.”
“He said at the time people on the beach started yelling at him to get out of the water because there was a shark feeding in the area.”
Witnesses who were also on the beach at the time of the attack confirmed the man’s account. One man had even called 911 to report a possible attack.
Authorities said: “Previously [a witness] spotted the pair snorkeling and searched for them to warn them “when he saw the shark’s large maw continuing to feed on something in the middle of the red cloud in the water.”
“He kept shouting at the man to get out of the water but didn’t see the woman anymore,” they said.
A snorkel set and part of a bathing suit were found.
Crews searched into the night for the missing woman, and although no body was recovered, a snorkel set and part of a bathing suit were found
Shark warnings were initially posted nearby but were eventually removed
Searchers reported a tiger shark in the area after the attack, estimating it to be 10 to 12 feet long. Tiger sharks have been linked to 39 “unprovoked” fatal attacks around the world, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The investigation, which lasted nearly two weeks, was conducted by the Maui Police Department and the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement.
Also involved in the search were crews from the US Coast Guard, Maui Fire Helicopter Air 1, Maui Ocean Safety and the Maui Fire Department.