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A scuba diver's throat was slashed by the board of a passing windsurfer in a horrific accident in a popular resort.

The Russian 31-year-old woman was scuba diving off the coast of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, on the south east coast of the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria, when she was hit in the neck by the board of a professional Swiss windsurfer on Monday.

The woman, a resident of the island for a number of years, was scuba diving for shellfish in an area known as Cueva Laya in Forma bay, reports The Local.

Nieves Garcia, the town's councillor in charge of security, confirmed she wasn't using a buoy to signal her position.

(Image: CEN)

Spanish media reports a 41-year-old Swiss professional windsurfer was admitted to El Doctoral medical centre after suffering an anxiety attack after the accident.

La Provincia said the athlete, was trying out new equipment before a tournament in Fuerteventura this week.

R.D had recently claimed a Swiss windsurfing record, Switzerland's Blick newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Spain's Civil Guard said initial investigations suggested the diver had accidentally strayed into the area set aside for windsurfers.