An Italian European Union diplomat was killed by a tiger shark while snorkeling near a popular luxury resort in Egypt’s Red Sea region, as his friend battled the predator in an attempt to save him.

Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, had been celebrating his birthday at the Sataya Resort in Marsa Alam, Egypt, when he and his friend Giuseppe Fappani, 69, decided to go snorkeling on Sunday, December 29. The pair were approximately 150 feet from the beach area when they encountered the tiger shark.

According to Fappani’s wife, who witnessed the attack from the shore, her husband attempted to intervene when he saw Di Gioia being attacked. Di Gioia suffered severe injuries to his arms and legs in the initial attack. “It bit me and didn’t let go,” Fappani recounted of his attempt to save his friend.

Di Gioia, who worked as part of the diplomatic service of the EU’s European External Action Service, was in the water beyond the coral reef in an area accessed by the resort’s jetty when the attack occurred. The location was outside the designated swimming zone, according to local authorities.

Egyptian officials have launched an investigation into what they termed an “anomalous” incident, noting that such attacks are unusual during the winter season. The resort’s pier and the surrounding waters have been closed while the investigation continues.

Giuseppe Fappani sustained injuries during his rescue attempt but survived the encounter. Local Egyptians helped rescue Fappani from the water. Both men were transported to a nearby hospital, where Di Gioia succumbed to his injuries.

The attack marks the latest in a series of shark-related incidents in Egypt’s Red Sea region. Marine experts point to several factors potentially contributing to changes in shark behavior in the area, including unregulated coastal construction, overfishing, and certain tourism practices that may be affecting the marine ecosystem.

Egyptian authorities have temporarily closed the stretch of sea where the attack took place, with the closure expected to remain in effect through January 1. An urgent committee has been formed to investigate the causes of the attack.