Friends and coworkers of Lowell woman killed by shark in Bahamas mourn ‘shocking’ loss

LOWELL, Mass. — Friends and loved ones are mourning the tragic loss of a Lowell woman killed by a shark while on vacation in the Bahamas on Monday. Royal Bahamas Police Force says 44-year-old Lauren Erickson Van Wart of Lowell was bitten by a shark while paddle boarding three-quarters of a mile from the shore of the Sandals Resort in western New Providence. She passed away from her injuries. Neighbors are shocked and saddened by the sudden loss. “Trip of a lifetime. It’s heartbreaking. It really is,” said Beth Stack-Emerson....