Gianluca Di Gioia, Italian tourist killed in Egypt shark attack snorkeling at luxury resort. Man’s friend, Giuseppe Fappani hospitalized attempting to save EU diplomat’s life as resort calls attack ‘anamolous.’
An Italian tourist described as an EU diplomat was killed in a shark attack at a luxury Egyptian resort while snorkeling, with the man’s friend sustaining serious injuries while attempting to save his buddy.
Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, Italy was snorkeling at the Sataya Resort on the Red Sea coast of Marsa Alam when he was attacked by a tiger shark.
The incident occurred just days after Di Gioia, who worked at the European External Action Service, had celebrated his birthday at the resort according to Italy’s Il Messaggero.
Di Gioia was swimming alongside his friend Giuseppe Fappani, 69, approximately 50 metres from the beach when the shark approached them.
Fappani’s wife witnessed the horrific attack from a nearby pier, describing how her husband swam towards Di Gioia in an attempt to ward off the predator according to Italy’s Corriere Della Sera.
In a desperate act of bravery, Fappani managed to briefly push the shark away only for the predator to return and attack both men.
Di Gioia’s wife Laurence, who had also witnessed the attack, raised the alarm and a dinghy was dispatched from the beach.
Despite initial hopes that both men would make it to safety, Di Gioia was caught in the shark’s jaws as the two men attempted to swim back to the pier.
Gioia tragically succumbed to his injuries. Fappani has since been discharged.
Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation into what they describe as an ‘anomalous’ incident, noting that the attack occurred in deep waters outside the designated bathing area.
Local officials emphasised the unusual timing of the attack, stating that ‘such incidents usually occur in spring or summer.’
The victim had been living in France and working for the EU’s diplomatic service for twelve years before the tragic incident.
Di Gioia had arrived at the resort on December 11 to celebrate his birthday on December 21 with family and friends, planning to stay until the New Year.
The Ministry of the Environment has decided to form an urgent commission for coordination and cooperation with the Red Sea governorate and other competent bodies to investigate the causes of the shark attack.
There have been four fatal shark attacks in the Red Sea over the last 10 years, according to data collected by the Shark Research Institute, cited by the BBC.
