Mother, 26, dies after attack by shark in Mexico while swimming with daughter

A 26-year-old mother has died in Mexico after being bitten in the leg by a shark.

The woman, who lived locally, was swimming with her five-year-old daughter when the attack happened.

She is understood to have died from blood loss from the massive bite wound on her leg. Her daughter was unharmed.

The attack happened in the waters off the beach town of Melaque in the state of Jalisco in western Mexico on Saturday, authorities said.

Rafael Araiza, the head of the local civil defence office, said the woman and her daughter were swimming towards a floating play platform about 25m (75ft) from the shore when the attack happened.

She is said to have been trying to boost her child onto the platform when the shark bit her.

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Mr Araiza said despite their quick response, rescuers were unable to save her.

Authorities closed the beaches in Melaque and the better-known beach town of Barra de Navidad to swimmers in response.

Shark attacks are understood to be relatively rare in Mexico. A US diver survived a shark bite on the forearm in Magdalena Bay off the Baja California Sur coast in 2019.