A fun trip to celebrate a birthday turned out to be a tragedy as a tourist became the victim of a fatal shark attack near the Marsa Alam resort in Egypt’s Red Sea. Gianluca Di Gioia, an Italian national aged 48 years, lost his life in this incident that occurred on December 22.
Celebration Turns to Heartbreak
Di Gioia had come to Egypt with his family to celebrate his birthday, which he had marked the day before the tragic incident. The serene vacation atmosphere turned grim when a tiger shark attacked him while he was swimming in deep waters beyond the designated safe bathing area.
His wife, who was on the shore, screamed for help as the whole incident happened. Her frantic calls had little effect as the events escalated so fast. A 69-year-old friend of Di Gioia attempted a courageous rescue himself going into the water. He could not prevent the tragedy from happening to Di Gioia and received minor injuries himself in the process.
Life Lived in Service
Born in Italy, Di Gioia lived in France with his family. He was married to his wife since 2013 and had built a career serving in the European Union. A member of the European External Action Service since 2012, Di Gioia was a respected official known for his dedication and strong expertise.
The incident has left his family and colleagues grief-stricken. Di Gioia’s body was moved to the mortuary at Port Ghalib Hospital, and a formal inquiry on the incident was started.
Safety Measures Following the Incident
The Ministry of the Environment of Egypt, in turn, has completely closed the area to the public for now. It is sealed off until January 1st in order not to permit any more similar incidents, as well as to check all possible measures of safety.
Such attacks by sharks in the Red Sea are not precedent-setting, since they rarely happen. Authorities have continued to impress on those concerned to observe safety while swimming, including swimming within demarcated areas and not straying deep.
The tragedy has raised concerns about marine safety and raised discussions on reinforcing protective measures for visitors in resorts in the region. As the incident has cast its shadow over this otherwise popular tourist destination, officials work to make sure that safety will still be an utmost concern for future travelers.
Di Gioia’s death was a grim reminder of the many unpredictable risks which nature could pose, even on the most festive and joyous moments in life. As his family mourned this profound loss, the wider community reflected on the importance of vigilance and preparedness when exploring the wonders of the natural world.
