Shark rips leg off tourist in horrific beach attack in front of five-year-old
The beach on the Mexican coast has been closed
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A tourist has died after having her leg bitten off by a shark in front of her child in Mexico.
The woman was helped out of the water at Melaque, on the country’s Pacific coast.
A video that was circulated on social media showed the victim lying on the sand after being helped out of the water.
In the video, onlookers could be heard shouting: "She’s lost her leg."
The beach has been closed (stock image)
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Mexican emergency services were called to the team. Sadly, the woman died of blood loss from the massive bite wound.
She has now been identified locally as a 26-year-old tourist called Maria Fernandez Martinez Jimenez. Her daughter escaped injury despite being beside her in the water.
The incident took place on the Pacific coast around 450 miles north-west of Acapulco.
Local reports said she was becoming aware her was in danger and helped the child to safety by placing her on a floating play platform.
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Tributes have been paid at the beach
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Civil Protection workers and firefighters in the municipality of Cihuatlan, which includes Melaque Beach, said in a message after the incident: "Our officials were carrying out support activities during a swimming event in the bay when they received reports of a person who was having problems getting out of the sea.
"When they reached the area they discovered a woman who was lifeless with one of her legs amputated, apparently following a shark attack."
Cihuatlan’s municipal government said: ‘"Following the terrible incident off one of our beaches, our priority is guaranteeing the safety and wellbeing of all our citizens.
"That’s why we’ve decided on a precautionary measure of banning access to beaches until further notice."
The attack on Saturday morning is said to have occurred just 65 feet from the shoreline as a swimming race was taking place.
The dead woman is believed to be a former marine biology student at the University of Guadalajara.
In a Facebook tribute, university chiefs said they shared the pain of the victim’s friends and family, adding: "We express our condolences following this irreparable loss."
Well-wishers later left flowers for the victim at the spot where she died on the beach.