On Monday, December 4, a woman vacationing in the Bahamas was killed when a shark attacked her while paddleboarding. She has now been identified as Lauren Erickson Van Wart, a Massachusetts resident. She was 44 years old.
According to reports, Van Wart was paddleboarding just off the beach from the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort in New Providence, the most populous island in the Bahamas. The attack occurred around 11:15 a.m. local time. A lifeguard from the resort saw the shark attack the paddlboarder and immediately launched a rescue boat to pull both the victim and “a male relative” out of the water. While CPR was administered quickly, Van Wart succumbed to her injuries, which the authorities described as “significant trauma to the right side of her body.”
Van Wart’s mother-in-law told ABC affiliate WCVB-TV that she was on a vacation with her husband at the time of the attack.
“We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones,” Sandals Resort said in a press release. “We remain in close contact with them and are providing all support possible during this difficult time.”
— Royal Bahamas Police Force (@RBPFPolice) December 5, 2023
Van Wart worked for a company called Curriculum Associates that creates educational tools and programs in partnership with educators to make classrooms better places for teachers and students.
“Our team is heartbroken and grieving the loss of a dear and trusted colleague and friend,” said Curriculum Associates’ chief executive officer Rob Waldron. “[She] infused her deep dedication to students and educators into every material she touched.”
Our condolences go out to Van Wart’s friends, family, and anyone affected by her tragic passing.
