A 64-year-old British tourist was attacked by a bull shark on the southeastern Caribbean island of Tobago, losing an arm and a leg.
Tobago Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said Peter Smith was drowning in waist-deep water when the attack occurred near Starfish Resort in Courland Bay, a popular tourist destination in Tobago. It is said that he was inside.
The bull shark was about 8 to 10 feet long and about 2 feet wide, Augustin said.
“We’re lucky he’s alive,” fellow tourist Stephanie Wright told the Mirror. “I saw the dorsal fin coming out of the water and thought, ‘Oh my god, this is a shark.’
A British tourist is in hospital after being attacked by a shark.Tobago closes some beaches
Peter Smith, 64, was swimming on the Caribbean island of Tobago when he was attacked by what appeared to be a bull shark. (Luis Javier Sandoval/VW Photo/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The government of Trinidad and Tobago has closed seven beaches and a marine park after a British tourist was attacked by a shark in the southeastern Caribbean. (Encyclopedia Britannica/Universal Images Group, via Getty Images)
Augustine said the attack happened at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, April 26, just 30 feet from shore.
Officials said the tourist was admitted to intensive care after the attack.
Officials said Peter Smith was admitted to intensive care after the attack. (Farley Augustine, Principal Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly (THA))
He said the victim’s left hand was severed from the elbow, his left thigh was also severed, and there were lacerations on his abdomen.
Trinidad and Tobago faces ‘national emergency’ after massive coastal oil spill
Photos from the commissioner’s office showed graphic images of Mr Smith’s severe shark bite marks along his body.
Tobago House of Representatives (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said an eight to 10 feet long bull shark attacked Peter Smith. (Farley Augustine, Principal Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly (THA))
He said he had spoken to the British High Commissioner and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and that each agency was closely monitoring the area.
“Currently we have drone reconnaissance and surveillance, coast guard monitoring and the Ministry of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety,” Augustin said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Shark attacks are rare. Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks, 22 provoked bites and 14 deaths worldwide, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
