St. Martin reports fatal shark attack, 1st in recent history

A shark has killed a 38-year-old female tourist in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin, shocking many in the eastern Caribbean region where such attacks are extremely rare

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A shark killed a 38-year-old female tourist in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin on Thursday, shocking many in the eastern Caribbean region where experts say such attacks are extremely rare.

Government spokesman Alain Rioual told The Associated Press that it was the first time in the territory’s recent history that a fatal attack had been reported. The victim, a French woman who was on sabbatical in St. Martin, died after having her leg torn off in the attack about 500 feet (150 meters) from shore.

The attack happened in Orient Bay, a popular beach in the northeastern part of the island that St. Martin shares with the Dutch Caribbean territory of St….