Tourist Loses Both Hands After Attempting Shark Photo in Turks and Caicos

A Canadian tourist faced a tragic accident in Turks and Caicos when she attempted to take a photo with a 6-foot shark while snorkeling off Providenciales, the main island in the archipelago. The incident, which occurred on Feb. 7, led to the woman losing both her hands after the shark bit her during the ill-fated interaction.

According to the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the 55-year-old woman ventured into the shallows to engage with the shark for photographs. However, the situation quickly turned dire as the shark clamped its jaws on her arms just a few yards offshore, as reported by officials.

Upon witnessing the horrifying event, the woman's husband leaped into the water in a desperate attempt to scare the shark away from his wife.

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, underwent amputation procedures following the attack. One arm was amputated below the wrist, while the other was removed halfway up her forearm. Subsequently, she was airlifted back to Canada for further medical treatment.

Although authorities have not definitively identified the shark species responsible for the attack, they suspect it was a bull shark, known for its aggressive nature.

On the same day, another shark incident unfolded in the Bahamas, where two American tourists were also attacked, underscoring the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters in the ocean.

Following the distressing events, the beach in Turks and Caicos was temporarily closed but reopened on Feb. 9 after safety assessments were conducted.

Shark attacks remain a global concern, with 88 reported incidents worldwide last year. Among these, 24 attacks were provoked by human interactions, as documented by the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, an organization dedicated to monitoring such occurrences.