A shark fatally attacked a tourist from Italy during his visit to the Colombian island of San Andres.

The Italian man, identified by local outlets as Antonio Roseto Degli Abruzzi, 56, was swimming when an eight-foot tiger shark attacked. The brutal bite caused hypovolemic shock, according to the first reports.

Images and videos are showing the severity of the attack. You can see the late victim on his back, with part of his right thigh missing.

According to sources, this was the first attack on the island ever recorded. Tiger sharks are extremely dangerous, with only the great white causing more human fatalities.

The images and videos show two tiger sharks in the area.

Marine biologist Rodrigo Lopez said:

"People are very worried about what's happened, and they're not letting people go into the water."

"A witness said the man who was attacked was a good swimmer and had been in the sea for quite a while and when he went further out a second time after coming back towards the shore, began to shout out for help and was surrounded by blood."

Mauricio Valdonado, who tried to save the tourist, and risked his life, stated:

"He was on his own."

A government spokesman said:

"There are diving programs with professionals in which sharks pass nearby, but nothing has ever happened."

Diving instructor Mirla Zambrano, 50, stated:

"We are all very surprised. It's the first time a shark has attacked a tourist in San Andres."

The residents of the island and the tourists turned to National Geographic for more information about the tiger shark.

These ocean killers are 10-14 feet tall, weighing 850-1400 pounds.

Their names come from "dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles."

As the sharks mature, the lines become less visible.

National Geographic states:

"These large, blunt-nosed predators have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters."

"Because they have a near completely undiscerning palate, they are not likely to swim away after biting a human, as great whites frequently do."