Date03-Jul-1959
TypeSea Disaster
CountryCARIBBEAN SEA
LocationOff Cristobal, 200 miles northeast of the entrance to the Panama Canal
ActivityColumbian petrol barge Rio Atrato burned and sank
InjuryFATAL X 2, 8 others missing. Survivors fought off sharks & sharks seen biting 2 of the dead. The 39 survivors were rescued by the German freighter Essen
VictimTeresea Britton (on raft) & a man (on floating debris), 27 years old
SourceCambridge Daily News, 7/4/1959; V. M. Coppleson (1962), p. 259
Shark Data Lab