Photo: Gianluca Di Gioia // Facebook
An Italian tourist was attacked and killed by a tiger shark while staying at a popular resort in Egypt. According to Italian news agency ANSA, on Sunday, December 22, Gianluca Di Gioia was attacked outside the Marsa Alam Resort, where he had been visiting to celebrate his birthday with family. The tragedy occurred just a day after the Roman turned 48. He was reportedly a diplomat with the European Union, working with the European External Action Service since 2012.
As Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported, Di Gioia’s wife witnessed the attack take place from shore and yelled for help. When he heard her cries, Di Gioia’s friend Guiseppe Fappani, 69, stepped in to lend aid. According to Fappani’s daughter, he only realized what was happening when he himself was dragged under the water by the shark. Fappani also sustained minor injuries in the process.
Both men were then taken to a hospital in Port Ghalib, 30 miles way, where Gi Gioia died from his injures. Fappani is expected to be discharged Monday.
The Egyptian Ministry of the Environment stated that the area where the attack took place is closed until Wednesday, January 1. They’ve launched an investigation into the incident, calling it an “anomalous” event given the fact that attacks tend to happen in spring and summer months in their region. Four fatal attacks have occurred in the area in the past decade with the most recent event happening when a Russian national was killed by a tiger shark in June 2023.
