British tourist, 64, fighting for his life after shark attack metres from shore at Caribbean beach
A BRITISH tourist attacked by a bull shark while swimming off Tobago is tonight in intensive care after suffering injuries to his stomach.
The man, 64, had ventured into the water near the Caribbean Island’s Starfish Hotel and was attacked about 10 metres from the shore.
Witnesses said they believed the shark, reportedly a bull shark, was up to 10 feet long and two feet wide.
The victim reportedly suffered a severed left thigh and severed left hand to elbow, as well as a laceration to his stomach.
He was receiving critical care at the Scarborough General Hospital last night, according to local reports.
The attack, which occurred on Friday at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay, has led the government of Trinidad & Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park.
Witnesses said the victim was only in waist-deep water when he was attacked, and that people nearby tried to chase off the predator.
Stephanie Wright, from West Sussex, said: “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.
“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.”
The government said that shark sightings were reported in the Grafton area and in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park.
Officials added that the closure of beaches and a marine park would allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the attack and possibly “neutralise” the shark threat.
There were 69 unprovoked shark attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide last year, along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
HORROR ATTACKS
It comes after a teenage boy was rushed to hospital after being mauled by a great white shark while fishing.
He was bitten on the leg off a beach in South Australia today when he reeled in the huge beast from a small fishing boat.
Last week, another man was rushed to hospital in Australia after a shark attack.
The beachgoer was bitten at the Bombie Surfing Spot in western Australia around 12.30pm on Saturday.
Cops said paramedics had no idea about the horror attack until the man turned up at a hospital.
He was immediately admitted – and is now in a stable condition, a WA Country health spokeswoman said in a statement.
A local surfer said he was “shocked” by the incident and told The West Australian it was “all part of the game”.
Other beachgoers and surfers have now been advised to take additional caution and adhere to beach closures.
2023 fatal shark attacks
THE ten fatal shark attacks of 2023 was double the five in the previous year, with four occurring in Australia.
These are the locations of the 10 fatal shark attacks of 2023:
- Australia: 4
- California, US: 1
- Hawaii, US: 1
- Bahamas: 1
- Egypt: 1
- Mexico: 1
- New Caledonia: 1