Tourist dies of wounds from shark attack in Hawaii
German woman is first person to die of shark attack in Hawaii in nearly decade
A 20-year-old German tourist who lost an arm in a shark attack off the coast of Maui last week died of her wounds on Wednesday, her family said, becoming the first person to die of a shark attack in Hawaii in nearly a decade.
Jana Lutteropp, 20, had been hospitalised since she was attacked while snorkeling near Maui and had been on life support prior to her death, a hospital spokeswoman said.
“Jana fought hard to stay alive. However, we are sad to say that she lost her fight today,” Lutteropp’s mother, Jutta Lutteropp, and sister Julia Broeske said in a statement released by Maui Memorial Medical Center.
“Jana was a very beautiful, strong, young woman who was always laughing, and we will forever remember her that way,” Lutteropp and Broeske said in the statement.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported in a story on its website that Lutteropp was snorkeling about 50 yards offshore, in an area known as White Rock, last Wednesday when she was attacked shortly before 5pm.