Tourist loses both hands after trying to take photo with 6-foot shark
A tourist lost both of her hands after trying to take a photo with a 6-foot shark while swimming on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The 55-year-old woman who wasn't named was snorkeling off Providenciales, the main island in the archipelago, when the incident happened last Feb. 7.
The Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), in a statement, said she "had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs."
The DECR said the shark was estimated to be approximately six feet in length, though they weren't able to confirm the species yet.
The woman was taken to the nearby Cheshire Hall Medical Centre "where she was stabilized and later flown off island for further medical care," the DECR said.
According to the New Zealand Herald, her husband rushed into the water to drive the shark away. Tourists also gathered around her and used their clothes to stem the bleeding.
It's understood she had one of her arms amputated below the wrist and the other halfway up her forearm.
The woman has since returned to Canada for further treatment.
The DECR said the beach was closed temporarily after the incident and was reopened on Feb. 9 after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.
The DECR reminded the public to "always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life."
"Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances," it added.
