The family of a woman who lost both her hands in a grizzly shark attack has described the life-altering incident while organizing a fundraiser for the victim.
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We previously reported on the attack on February 14. The woman has not been named, and the attack occurred close to the shore on a beach in the Caribbean. The tourist lost both hands in the encounter despite her husband's attempt to rescue her.
Per a
press release from the Turks & Caicos Islands Government, the woman was injured by a shark in the waters adjacent to Blue Hills, Providenciales. Emergency services escorted her to Cheshire Hall Medical Center. Once the woman's condition stabilized, Medical staff flew her off the island for care on the mainland.The shark attack prompted a beach closure. Beaches reopened after experts determined the shark had left the area and moved to deeper water. The press release explains that authorities could not identify the species, although they estimate it was 6 feet long. The release also alleges that "the tourist had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs."
The Family Explain What Happened On GoFundMe
The family set up a GoFundMe page, describing the vacation as a nightmare. They also reveal the species as a Bull shark. The shark reportedly approached the woman in hip-high clear water and bumped her in the legs. It then "circled around and bit her thigh."
The post explains that the shark wasn't satisfied and cut off both the woman's hands, which she raised to protect herself. One hand was reportedly severed at the wrist and the other at the mid-forearm. The husband allegedly managed to wrestle the shark away and stayed between the creature and his wife until she made it to shore and collapsed on the beach.
The GoFundMe concludes, "This is something that has completely altered their life in the blink of an eye. I ask, if you can, to please help them; they will need a lot of support to get through this. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated."
At the time of writing, the fundraising campaign has raised $24,556 CAD of its $35,000 CAD target.
