Bahamas

21-Year-Old College Student From Torrance Killed in Bahamas Shark Attack, Family Says

The woman died after being attacked by a shark while snorkeling near Rose Island, police said

A 21-year-old woman from Torrance, California, was killed in a shark attack in the Bahamas, the woman's family said Wednesday.

Jordan Lindsey, a college student enrolled at Loyola Marymount University, was identified as the woman killed in the attack, her father Michael Lindsey confirmed to NBC News. 

"Her name was Jordan Lindsey...we already miss her so much," Michael Lindsey said in a statement. "She was so caring. She loved all animals. It's ironic she would die getting attacked by a shark."

The Southern California native was born and raised in Torrance and graduated from South Torrance High School, her father said. She was a communications studies major at LMU, where a plaque bearing her name will be part of the school's student memorial.

She was a devoted animal lover who transferred to LMU from Santa Monica College, the university said in a statement. 

The attack happened quickly as Lindsey was snorkeling. Mother Kami Lindsey, who was also in the water at the time of the attack, did her best to get her injured daughter to shore, but the 21-year-old lost too much blood, Michael Lindsey said.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed that a shark attack "had left an American visitor dead."

The RBPF said in a statement, "Preliminary information indicates shortly after 2 p.m., an adult female was snorkeling in waters near Rose Island, when she was attacked by sharks. The woman was transported to shore and taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead."

The RBPF said investigations were ongoing.

The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation expressed its "condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim" in a statement. The ministry also said it issued precautionary advisories to the public.

At LMU, Lindsey was part of the Entrepreneurship Society and the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. The communications studies major worked as a communications assistant for the school's college of science and engineering. She was a student researcher with CURes, LMU's Center for Urban Resilience.

The family has established a GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for travel and funeral expenses for Jordan's body.

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