Brave pal desperately tried to save EU official being mauled to death by shark before being savaged by beast himself
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A BRAVE man tried desperately to fend off a shark as it attacked his friend off the coast of Egypt. Despite the heroic actions of his friend, Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, tragically died, while his pal Giuseppe Fappani escaped with horrific injuries. The Italian tourist, 69, told how he tried to pull his friend from the jaws of a tiger shark as they were attacked near the resort of Marsa Alam.
![[Pictured: Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, died after he was attacked by a shark off the coast of Egypt]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/eu-official-mauled-death-shark-960601921.jpg?strip=all&w=604)
Di Gioia - who worked for the diplomatic arm of the EU - had been snorkelling in front of a luxe Red Sea holiday spot before the attack. He was in the water with Fappani as they celebrated his recent 48th birthday. The pair were swimming some 50 metres away from the shore where a jetty sticking out from the beach allows tourists to go beyond a coral reef.
![[He was mauled while snorkelling near a beach-side resort]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/eu-official-mauled-death-shark-960601917.jpg?strip=all&w=604)
Fappani's wife tragically watched the attack unfold from a nearby pier. She told Corriere Della Sera that she saw her husband swim towards his friend in a last-ditch attempt to scare the shark off. The shell-shocked woman said: "Peppino did everything he could to save Gianluca Di Gioia who was snorkeling.
![[The men were attacked by a tiger shark (pictured, stock image)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NINTCHDBPICT000960606239.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"That area is safe to swim in. "I was on the pier, I saw him swim towards Gianluca to scare the shark but then Peppino was bitten on the arms and legs too.". Fappani's injuries were so bad it was not clear at first whether he would survive the attack. Incredibly, the 69-year-old managed to push the shark away for a few moments before it came thrashing back.
![[Di Gioia pictured on holiday next to a horde of camels]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/eu-official-mauled-death-shark-960601913.jpg?strip=all&w=604)
