Tragic Shark Attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands
A woman from Minnesota tragically lost her life after a shark attacked her while she swam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Witnesses recounted her last words, shared by a brave individual who attempted to rescue her.
Arlene Lillis, 56, was in the water off Drosh Beach on St. Croix when, around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, screams pierced the air. Witnesses described them as “ungodly cries,” unsettling everyone nearby.
Christopher Carroll, a nurse from Utah and former lifeguard, rushed from his hotel room upon hearing the distress calls. He swam towards Lillis, who was approximately 10 meters away, floating in a pool of blood.
As Carroll got closer, he noticed her left arm was missing below the elbow, with her humerus visibly protruding. Surprisingly, she was still awake.
“She was talking,” Carroll recounted. “I was just trying to keep her calm.” He recalled Lillis saying, “I’m going to die.”
Carroll was later assisted by Ryan Connott, a Nebraska vacationer trained in CPR. Connott, having heard the commotion, swam to the scene and alerted people on the shore to call for help.
Connott shared that Lillis told them her name was Arlene. Tragically, he believes those might have been her last coherent words.
Neither rescuer caught sight of the shark.
Upon reaching the beach, Carroll observed that Lillis had already lost a significant amount of blood.
She was transported by ambulance to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries, likely from a shark attack, as reported by island officials.
There were also reports of a second potential victim, but responders searched without finding anyone else.
The Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the victims and everyone who witnessed this tragedy.” He thanked the bystanders and first responders who acted swiftly during the ordeal.
While authorities have not confirmed the species of shark involved, the waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands are known to harbor some of the most dangerous, including tiger sharks and Caribbean reef sharks.
