28-year-old Kirsty Margot Brown was snorkeling near the BAS base at Rothera on the Antarctic Peninsular on Tuesday as part of her research into the effects of icebergs on inshore marine life when the leopard seal attacked and dragged her down.
Scientists accompanying her eventually managed to pull her from the water, but all attempts to revive her failed.
"This is tragic and shocking. Kirsty was a vibrant, dynamic individual committed to her science and with a promising scientific career ahead of her," BAS director Chris Rapley said in a statement, adding that her family in West Sussex, England had been told.
The BAS, which is based at Cambridge, north east of London, said Brown was an experienced cold seas diver who joined the organization on a 30-month contract in 2002.
It said that while leopard seals were inquisitive, it was rare for them to attack humans.
Scientists accompanying her eventually managed to pull her from the water, but all attempts to revive her failed.
"This is tragic and shocking. Kirsty was a vibrant, dynamic individual committed to her science and with a promising scientific career ahead of her," BAS director Chris Rapley said in a statement, adding that her family in West Sussex, England had been told.
The BAS, which is based at Cambridge, north east of London, said Brown was an experienced cold seas diver who joined the organization on a 30-month contract in 2002.
It said that while leopard seals were inquisitive, it was rare for them to attack humans.
