A tragic accident occurred Sunday morning in the crystal-clear waters of Marsa Alam, Egypt, where a shark attack claimed the life of Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, a Rome, France resident. Egypt’s Environment Ministry said those involved were swimming “in deep water and outside designated swimming areas.” Di Gioia was fatally attacked while snorkeling, while his friend, Peppino Fappani, 69, a native of Soncino, managed to save himself after bravely jumping into the water to scare off the shark. Fappani suffered serious injuries to his arms and legs, but after surgery, his life is no longer in danger.
The local prosecutor’s office in Qusair, in cooperation with a commission from the Ministry of Environment and the Red Sea governorate, has launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the attack. The Rome prosecutor’s office is also likely to open a file, given the involvement of Italian nationals. The area of the sea where the attack took place will remain closed to bathers until Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the Italian Embassy in Cairo is providing consular assistance to both the victim’s family and the injured survivor.
Di Gioia, who holds a degree in economics from Rome’s Sapienza University, had worked for the European Commission and the European External Action Service since 2012. Fappani, on the other hand, is a dental technician.
Shark attacks along the Egyptian coast are rare, but some recent incidents have caused concern: including the death of a Russian national in Hurghada last June and two tourists in 2022. Other serious incidents occurred in 2020 and 2023. Despite these isolated cases, the Red Sea continues to be a popular tourist destination for New Year’s Eve, thanks to its vibrant coral reefs rich in tropical fish. Recent statistics indicate that about 150,000 tourists have arrived at Hurghada and Marsa Alam airports, with high hotel occupancy that is supporting the local economy. However, experts warn that factors such as uncontrolled construction, overfishing and irresponsible tourism practices could destabilize the marine ecosystem and affect shark behavior.
The article Tragic shark attack: Italian man loses his life in Marsa Alam comes from TheNewyorker.
