Tourist Loses Both Hands in Shark Attack During Photo Op, Authorities Issue Alert : Secret Life Of Mom

Sharks have been the main ‘villain’ in books, television, and movies for a long time. After all, the apex predators are easy to pin down as ‘evil, blood-thirsty animals’. In reality, sharks are just regular animals following their natural instincts. In most cases, if left alone, sharks don’t pose a real threat to humans. When provoked, accidentally or not, it can become a different story. This is what tragically happened to a woman vacationing in Grand Turks and Caicos last week with her husband. The result was her losing both of her hands.

Woman Loses Hands in Shark Attack

A tragic shark attack off the coast of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands has left a 55-year-old female tourist severely injured. The incident occurred on February 7th while the victim was attempting to take photos with a shark in the waters adjacent to Blue Hills, Providenciales. The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) reported that the tourist’s hands were severed in the attack. She was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where a medical team stabilized her before being airlifted for further treatment.

What Kind of Shark Was It?

Neither authorities or witnesses of the event are 100% certain as to what kind of shark was involved in the incident. They estimated that the shark was about 6 feet in length, with authorities suspecting it to be a bull shark or tiger shark. In response to the attack, officials closed beaches from Thompson’s Cove Beach to Froggies ATV in Blue Hills as a precaution. The beaches were later reopened after authorities determined that the shark had moved to deeper waters.

Witnesses say that the shark had been swimming around in the shallow waters for a while before the incident. It was likely at this time when the woman decided to grab her phone and take a picture of the animal. While she was taking her photos, the shark evidently decided that her phone either looked like food, or a threat. Her horrified husband rushed into the water to scare the animal away, however, the animal had already bitten off the woman’s hands.

Recent Rise in Shark Attacks

This incident comes amidst a series of shark attacks globally, with separate incidents occurring in the Bahamas and Australia. Two American women were bitten by a shark near Bimini island in the Bahamas, while a 17-year-old Australian girl lost her life after being bitten at Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. These events are part of the larger context of unprovoked shark attacks, which have seen a decline according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). This file is maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History. The ISAF’s 2024 report revealed a decrease in unprovoked shark bites worldwide, with only 47 confirmed cases in 2024, down from 69 in the previous year.

How High Is Shark Attack Risk?

Despite the media attention on shark attacks, experts emphasize that the risk of being bitten by a shark remains extremely low. That being said, experts do note that it is likely that shark incidents will begin to rise. This is because climate change is warming up the water. Warmer waters, experts say, attract marine life, including sharks, closer to shore. That being said, practicing proper ‘shark etiquette’ and following certain shark rules will drastically reduce your personal risk of experiencing aggression from a shark.

Shark Safety: How to Not Provoke a Shark

Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, highlighted the importance of understanding natural patterns of shark behavior to prevent such incidents. For example, do not swim in murky waters and avoid what many who live near shark hotspots call ‘shark o’clock’, aka dawn and dusk. Do not swim in marinas or harbors and especially avoid any water surrounding areas where fishing is done. When fishermen bring in their daily catches, they usually clean the fish right there in the harbor. The unwanted parts of the fish are usually tossed back into the water. The sharks know this and will come in search of an easy meal. Finally, avoid wearing shiny things while swimming. Items such as jewelry, bathing suits with tassels, anything sparkly or reflective can be confused for the glinting of fish scales to a shark. In this horrific and tragic incident, the glint of the woman’s phone very likely could have been mistaken as food by the shark.

Finally, give sharks their space. While you may see videos online of people diving with sharks and pushing or ‘redirecting’ them when they get too close, this is not an invitation for you to jump in and do the same. Swimming in such close proximity naturally raises your risk of having an incident. As always, absolutely under no circumstances do you attempt to feed a shark. Not only do you risk your own safety, but that of others, as you inadvertently teach the animal that human presence means food.

What To Do If You Encounter a Shark

If you follow all of the above rules, you will likely not come in too close proximity to a shark. That being said, if you are going to swim in any ocean or sea, the probability is still not zero. For this reason, it is important to know what to do should you find yourself in the water with a shark. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

Stay calm and try to maintain a steady pace while swimming back to shore or a boat. If you can, swim in such a way so that you are facing the shark and therefore keeping the animal in your sightline.
Do not splash around or make sudden movements, as this can attract the shark’s attention. Swim as calmly and gently as possible.
Avoid swimming near schools of fish, seals, or sea lions, as these are common prey for sharks.
If a shark approaches you, maintain eye contact and try to make yourself appear as large as possible.
If the shark gets too close, defend yourself by using any objects nearby as a barrier between you and the shark or by hitting the shark’s sensitive areas, such as its eyes or gills. Only if the shark appears to be on the attack. You don’t want to provoke it to attack you, only defend yourself if it already is.
If you are unable to escape the shark, curl into a tight ball to protect your vital organs.

Remember, shark attacks are rare and most sharks are not interested in humans as prey. It’s important to stay informed and prepared, but also to enjoy your time in the water responsibly.

The Bottom Line

While the recent shark attacks are a cause for concern, it’s essential to remember that such incidents remain rare. With proper caution and understanding of shark behavior, it is possible to mitigate the risks associated with shark encounters, contributing to the safety of beachgoers and swimmers worldwide. Remember that when you are swimming, you are in their environment and not the other way around. By understanding sharks’ natural instincts and behavioral patterns, you can avoid having any close encounters. This allows you to enjoy the sea and them to continue to live their lives as normal.