Scuba Diver Mauled to Death by Shark

The American woman was on vacation in Costa Rica
By Josh Rosenblatt,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 3, 2017 10:40 AM CST
US Tourist Killed by Shark in Costa Rica
   (Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society via AP)

An American tourist who was mauled to death by a shark off the coast of Costa Rica on Thursday has been identified as a New York City private equity director. Authorities say Rohina Bhandari, a 49-year-old senior director at WL Ross & Col. LL, was with a group of 18 people diving off Cocos Island National Park when she was attacked by a tiger shark, the New York Daily News reports. A boater and other divers tried to drive the shark away, but by the time Bhandari was pulled from the water she had suffered severe bites to her legs. A dive master was also bitten but his wounds were not life-threatening.

The Costa Rican Environment Ministry said Bhandari was surfacing at the tail end of a long dive when the shark attacked, Gulf Times reports. The ministry also called the attack an "isolated incident" and the worst ever recorded for the island. Bhandari had worked at WL Ross, which was founded by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, since 2013. (More shark attack stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X