A British tourist has reportedly lost his arm and a leg following a shark attack while swimming at a holiday hotspot in the Caribbean.
The man is believed to have sustained injuries to his left hand, left thigh, and stomach after being attacked near the Caribbean Island’s Starfish Hotel in Tobago.
Local media have named the man as Peter Smith from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
The 64-year-old was reportedly swimming near the shore of popular holiday spot Turtle Beach.
According to witnesses, the attack took place at 9am on Friday and involved a bull shark.
Smith is reported to have lost his left leg and left arm in the horrific attack and remains in intensive care.
Chiefs closed beaches on the Caribbean island’s northwestern-facing coast immediately after the attack.
A drone said to be used to scan the waters.
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Bull sharks are known for their aggression and along with tiger sharks and great whites, are one of the three shark species most frequently involved in attacks on humans.
In a post on social media, Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of the Tobagonian government wrote: “Out of an abundance of caution (for the remaining portions of today), we are forced to temporarily close beaches: Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay and all coastal areas in between.
“Currently, we are doing drone reconnaissance/surveillance, Coast Guard surveillance, and the Department of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety.”
Bull sharks are known for their aggression and along with tiger sharks and great whites
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Witnesses claim the victim was waist-deep water when he attacked.
“We saw some people on the beach, and I originally thought the gentleman had had a cardiac arrest, and I thought they were helping him,” witness Stephanie Wright told The Mirror.
“And then I saw someone running down with a towel, and then I saw a dorsal fin come out of the water and thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s a shark.’ As it turned, I saw the tail come out as well. As it swam off.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
