Egypt: Czech tourist dies in shark attack at Red Sea resort

A Czech tourist died Friday as result shark attack in the Red Sea while spending time with family in the North African country, reports say.

The identity of the man has not been disclosed but Czech Radio reported that the 41-year-old man was swimming in the Red Sea off the coast of Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt, at the moment of the attack.

“Our consul was informed by telephone that this afternoon; the client of the Exim Tours travel agency had died as a result of a shark attack.” Echo24, another Czech media quoted an official as saying.

The death is the first over the past three years following the death of a German tourist also killed in a shark attack in 2015. Plus, in 2010 four tourists were wounded and one reported killed in a string of shark attacks.

The North African country in 2017 as per government data on shark attacks recorded the lowest number of such incidents over two decades, The New Arab adds.

The victim’s family according to the tour operator requested to travel home soon after the drama.

Egypt’s buzzing tourism industry was hit following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak. The number of travelers further plumbed in 2015 after Russia and the several western countries suspended flight to the Red Sea resorts following the downing of a Russian passenger jet in the Sinai by the Islamic State group (ISIS).

The 14.7 million figure recorded in 2010 slumped to 5.4 million in 2016. 2017 figures have been put at 8.3 million visitors, meaning a slight recovery. Revenues have taken a downwards trend as they are tied to arrivals. Tourism authorities made a gain of $3.8 billion in 2016 against $11.6 billion recorded 2010.