A relaxing Caribbean holiday turned into a scene of horror when a female tourist was savagely attacked by a shark in shallow waters off the Turks and Caicos Islands, reportedly losing both of her hands as her husband desperately tried to fight the animal away.
The victim, believed to be a 55-year-old Canadian national, was enjoying a beach day with her family when the bloody attack unfolded just a few yards from shore last Friday morning, according to the Daily Mail.
Attack unfolds in shallow water
According to local authorities, the woman had been wading in the shallows off Thompson’s Cove Beach in central Providenciales at around 10:30 am when the shark struck. Officials said she had “attempted to engage” with the animal and take a photograph of it moments before the attack.
Local media reported that the shark lunged suddenly, biting the woman and causing catastrophic injuries to her arms. Witnesses said her family, including her husband, were nearby when the attack began.
As the shark continued to circle, the woman’s husband reportedly rushed into the water and bravely attempted to fight the predator off, preventing it from biting her again.
Husband’s desperate efforts to save her
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the shark repeatedly returned toward the injured woman. At the same time, her husband tried to place himself between the animal and his wife, fending it off as best he could.
A man claiming to be a relative later said the woman was also bitten in the thigh, but did not lose her leg. Despite the severity of her injuries, she was reportedly able to walk back to shore with assistance.
Disturbing scenes on the beach
Harrowing images from the aftermath show crowds gathering around the woman on the beach as bystanders attempted to help. Cloths and towels were pressed against her arms in an apparent effort to stem the heavy bleeding while emergency services were contacted.
Royal Turks and Caicos Police confirmed that officers and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene near the Blue Hills neighbourhood of Providenciales. The victim was brought safely ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for urgent treatment.
Severe injuries and medical treatment
Reports indicate that the woman’s injuries were extensive. One of her hands was amputated at the wrist, while the other was amputated midway down her forearm.
She was later transported back to Canada, where she is said to be continuing her medical care.
Shark sightings and lingering threat
The shark involved in the attack was estimated by the local government to be around six feet in length, though the species has not yet been officially identified. Unconfirmed reports circulating online suggested it may have been a bull shark.
Eerie footage captured by another tourist at a nearby beachside villa showed a shark thrashing about in shallow waters shortly after the incident. One witness told a local news outlet that the shark remained in the area for at least 40 minutes after the attack.
“I was there for 40 minutes and it was still lingering,” the witness said.
Rare but not unprecedented attacks
Shark bites in the waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos Islands are considered relatively rare. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF), only one unprovoked shark attack was reported in the territory last year, and it was non-fatal.
Shark population around the islands
The waters around Turks and Caicos are home to a variety of shark species, including grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, and hammerhead sharks.
Despite the presence of these predators, global shark attacks remain relatively uncommon. The ISAF noted this week that 2024 was “an exceptionally calm year for shark bites,” with only 47 unprovoked attacks worldwide — well below the 10-year average of 70.