Shark kills Venezuelan during Coast Guard rescue near Aruba

Published 7:13 am Monday, December 21, 2015

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard says one of seven Venezuelan men whose boat capsized near Aruba has died after being attacked by a shark while being rescued.

Spokesman Roderick Gouverneur told The Associated Press on Monday that the man was clinging to a rescue buoy and was attacked as a member of the Coast Guard suspended from a helicopter tried to rescue him. He said the man died Saturday on the way to the hospital.

He said two other men died when they sank with the boat.

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Gouverneur said four others who held onto a refrigerator and pallet are recovering from dehydration.

The men were traveling from Bonaire to Aruba to sell whiskey. Venezuelans often travel on boats laden with goods to sell throughout the Dutch Caribbean islands.