By: Staff Writer
February 18, 2025
A Canadian tourist lost both her hands when she tried to take a picture with a 6-foot shark while swimming in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and it bit her last week.
The TCI Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, said in a statement: “The individual was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilized and later flown off island for further medical care.
“Upon confirmation of the incident the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) issued a beach closure notification from Thompson’s Cove Beach to Froggies ATV, Blue Hills in an abundance of caution. The beach was reopened on Sunday, February 9th at 1pm after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.
“The shark was estimated to be approximately 6ft in length, however the species is yet to be confirmed.
“Further to the investigation, it has been determined that the tourist had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.”
A man claiming to be a relative of the woman said she was able to walk back to shore after being bitten. She was bitten in the thigh, he added, but did not lose her leg.
At the same time her husband desperately tried to fight off the shark, witnesses said, as it continued to circle and tried to bite the woman again.
Police and environmental officials confirmed the attack which occurred in the waters off Thompson’s Cove Beach in central Providenciales at around 10.30 am on Friday, February 7.
They advised the public to remain out of the ocean until the all-clear was issued.
Royal Turks and Caicos Police said that medical personnel and cops were dispatched to the scene near the neighbourhood of Blue Hills, Providenciales.
They added that the victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.
The woman reportedly had one of her hands amputated at the wrist and the other mid-way down her forearm, and is now said to be receiving medical care back in Canada.
Some reports suggest the woman may have tried to pick up the shark, which quickly bit her arms, hands, and leg. She was helped out of the water, and a photo of the scene shows first responders wrapping her wounds with towels.