A mother in Mexico died after her leg got bitten off by a shark in the ocean — this as she attempted to save her daughter … who ultimately survived.
The shocking aftermath of the shark attack in Melaque was caught on video that made the rounds this weekend — and it’s incredibly brutal. You can see 26-year-old Maria Fernandez Martinez Jimenez being carried to shore by a group of bystanders … and her limb’s missing.
People scream in terror as those nearby rush over to help and flag down first responders — but, sadly, Jimenez ended up losing her life after a massive amount of blood loss.
Per local officials, Jimenez was in the water with her 5-year-old when she noticed a shark swimming close by, about 75 feet from shore. The mother quickly hoisted her daughter up onto a floating play platform … however, the animal ended up going after her instead.
The child is said to have been uninjured in the episode, but it’s an absolute tragedy … because she lost her mom. Law enforcement shut down the beach in the aftermath, including surrounding seaside areas as a precautionary measure.
It’s unclear what species of shark may have been responsible. Jimenez is reported to have been a former marine biology student at the University of Guadalajara, and lived in Jalisco.