Authorities identify Mass. woman killed in Bahamas shark attack

Authorities on Tuesday released the name of the Massachusetts woman who was killed in a shark attack while vacationing in the Bahamas. 

Lauren Erickson Van Wart, 44, was identified as the victim in the shark attack by the The Royal Bahamas Police Force, according to a statement obtained by ZNS Bahamas.

Police previously said the victim in the attack was a tourist from Boston, but on Tuesday only identified Van Wart as being a Massachusetts resident.

Police have said that 44-year-old suffered serious injuries to the right side of her body when she was attacked while paddleboarding less than a mile off the western end of New Providence Island. She died at the scene, while the man she was paddleboarding with was not injured.

It is not immediately known what kind of shark attacked Van Wart.

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

Want to leave a comment?

Create an Account Or sign in to your account

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

To comment, please verify your email address

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com