Mass. Math Editor, 44, Identified as Bahamas Shark Attack Victim: 'Trusted Colleague and Friend'
Lauren Erickson Van Wart was reportedly paddleboarding near a resort in New Providence when the attack occurred
Authorities have identified the Massachusetts woman who died in a shark attack off the coast of the Bahamas on Monday.
On Tuesday, the victim was "identified as 44-year-old Lauren Erickson Van Wart," according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Van Wart was paddleboarding near a resort in New Providence when the attack occurred around 11:15 a.m. local time, according to a previous news release posted by authorities.
A resort lifeguard who saw the incident used a rescue boat and "retrieved the victim and a male relative from the water," police said.
The authorities added that CPR was administered to Van Wart, who sustained “significant trauma to the right side of her body,” but she could not be revived.
Related: Mom, 26, Dies in Apparent Shark Attack While Swimming With Daughter, 5, Off Mexico Coast
Van Wart’s mother-in-law said that she was vacationing with her husband at the time, ABC affiliate WCVB-TV reported.
Van Wart, of Lowell, worked for a technology company that specializes in educational tools and programs known as Curriculum Associates, according to WCVB-TV and The Boston Globe.
In a statement to WCVB-TV, chief executive officer Rob Waldron said the woman was “a beloved member” of the math editorial team and was “focused on improving learning outcomes for all.”
"Our team is heartbroken and grieving the loss of a dear and trusted colleague and friend,” Waldron said, adding that Van Wart “infused her deep dedication to students and educators into every material she touched.”
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Monday’s incident took place near the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort, according to the station. In a statement, Sandals Resorts said the company is “deeply saddened” by the woman’s “tragic” death.
“We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones,” the company said. “We remain in close contact with them and are providing all support possible during this difficult time.”
Sandals did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Earlier this year, the Florida Museum of Natural History said the "global total of unprovoked shark bites [was] significantly lower than average" compared to previous years, in its 2022 International Shark Attack File.
“The 2022 worldwide total of 57 confirmed unprovoked cases is lower than the most recent five-year (2017-2021) average of 70 incidents annually," the report notes. "There were nine shark-related fatalities this year, five of which are assigned as unprovoked.”
News of this latest shark attack came as another fatal incident made headlines.
Over the weekend, a 26-year-old died after she was seemingly attacked by a shark while swimming with her 5-year-old daughter in Mexico, a local official told The New York Post and the Associated Press.
The mom was reportedly attempting to push her daughter onto a floating play platform when she was bitten in the leg. She was found dead at the scene, according to CNN.
In a statement, the Cihuatlán municipal government warned people to avoid local beaches, according to the outlet. “Our priority is to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of every citizen,” the government said.
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