Lauren Erickson Van Wart: Newlywed Massachusetts woman killed by shark during honeymoon in Bahamas

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Lauren Erickson Van Wart, a 44-year-old math editor from Massachusetts, was killed by a shark attack while paddleboarding in the Bahamas on Monday, December 4.

She was a newlywed who was on her “first honeymoon” with her husband who witnessed the tragedy unfold in front of his eyes, according to the Daily Mail.

How did the shark attack Lauren Erickson Van Wart? 

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Van Wart was paddleboarding with a male relative near the western end of New Providence Island when she was bitten by a shark.

A lifeguard at the luxury adults-only couples resort spotted the woman in distress and launched a rescue for both of them. But Van Wart had suffered severe injuries to the right side of her body and upper limb. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel after attempts to wake her up via CPR failed. 

Witnesses described to the publication hearing horrific screams as the tragedy unfolded. 

Shark-related fatalities in the Bahamas

Gavin Naylor, program director of the International Shark Attack File in Florida, said that there have been a few shark-related fatalities in the Bahamas in the past five years.

He explained that the Bahamas has a large tourist population and many visitors who want to interact with sharks which makes the sharks less cautious. He added that most shark bites are accidental, but sometimes they are intentional.

"So the sharks get acclimated, and the animals are a little bit less cautious than they otherwise might be," he said.

Colleagues and neighbors mourn the loss of Lauren Erickson Van Wart

Van Wart worked as a math editor for Curriculum Associates, a company that provides educational materials and assessments.

Her boss, Rob Waldron, said in a statement to multiple publications that she was a “beloved member of our math editorial team” and a “trusted colleague and friend." He said that she was dedicated to improving learning outcomes for students and educators.

Her neighbors in Lowell, Massachusetts, were shocked and saddened by the news of her death.

Lauren Erickson Van Wart planned for this vacation for months as neighbours pray for her husband 

Beth Stack-Emerson, who lives across the street from Van Wart, told Boston 25 that she was looking forward to her vacation for months.

She said that she felt sorry for her husband, who was with her during the attack. She also offered her prayers for Van Wart’s family. “Trip of a lifetime. It’s heartbreaking. It really is. Shocking, I mean these poor people they probably looked forward to this vacation for months," Emerson said. 

“Oh my God terrible. I can’t even imagine… don’t want to imagine. My heart goes out to Ernest definitely,” Stack-Emerson said of her husband who witnessed the tragedy. “Pray, find some strength from God to get through this. How else do you get through it?” she added.