Tourist dies in shark attack after diving in baited water

AN AUSTRIAN tourist died after being bitten by a shark while diving near the Bahamas in waters that had been baited with bloody fish parts to attract the predators.

Markus Groh, 49, a Vienna lawyer and diving enthusiast, was on a commercial dive trip on Sunday when he was bitten about 75km off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.

Mr Groh was in the open water without a cage or similar protection.

The crew aboard the Shear Water, of Riviera Beach-based Scuba Adventures, immediately called the coastguard.

Mr Groh, who was bitten on the leg, was airlifted to a hospital, where he died yesterday.

The company’s website says it offers the opportunity to get “face to face” with sharks.

The site explains that its shark expeditions are “unique”. To ensure “the best results... there will be food in the water at the same time as the divers. Please be aware these are not ‘cage’ dives, they are open water experiences.”