The Egyptian Red Sea Authority issued an order to close several Red Sea beaches on Friday after the death of a 68-year-old Austrian woman in a shark attack earlier in the day off the coast of Sahl Hasheesh, according to two security sources, Reuters reported.

The victim was admitted to a local private hospital immediately after the attack, a source at the Red Sea Health Authority told the agency.

He added that attempts were made to resuscitate her, but she died due to circulatory failure - a sudden drop in blood pressure from injuries and blood loss.

The security source also added that the woman had been living in Egypt for the past five years with her Egyptian husband.