A woman has died after she was attacked by a shark off the coast of Maui, Hawaii.

The 65-year old resident of Kihei was snorkelling at a surf break known as Dumps, near Big Beach at Makena State Park, at the time of the attack yesterday morning. At some point she became separated from her two friends, and was found floating face down some 200 yards offshore, according to a statement by the Maui Fire Department. Paramedics on the scene could do nothing to save the woman, who was missing an arm and had sustained serious wounds to her upper torso. The species of the shark responsible for the attack is yet to be identified.

Ocean safety crews on jet skis have cleared the water from Big Beach to La Perouse Bay on the island’s south coast. This is the first fatal shark attack in Hawaii this year, but the third off the coast of Maui since 2013.

Our thoughts go out to the woman’s family, and also — lest we be accused of taking sides in the matter — to the much maligned shark community, who are merely going about their business.

At the weekend, a surfer in South Australia was left fighting for his life after losing his leg to what is believed to have been a great white shark.