A 56-year-old woman has died after losing her arm in a suspected shark attack while snorkelling off Frederiksted in the Caribbean island of St Croix, part of the US Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Islands Police Department said marine units and Fire and Emergency Medical Services were dispatched after reports of a swimmer in distress at around 4.28 pm on Thursday, 8 January.
The woman, who has been identified by her next of kin as Arlene Lillis, a tourist from Minnesota, was transported to hospital where she sadly succumbed to her injury. Emergency responders said she had lost an arm during the attack.
Witnesses said the incident occurred within a designated swimming area at Dorsch Beach in Frederiksted, located at the western coast of St Croix.
Initial reports suggested there may have been a second victim, however, a search by local Rescue Services and a US Coast Guard helicopter was unable to locate anybody else in connection with the incident.
A witness staying at a nearby hotel said he entered the water after hearing screams. Christopher Carroll, a nurse who had previously worked as a lifeguard, told The Virgin Islands Consortium that he swam out to assist MS Lillis, who was still conscious at the time.
‘I saw there was a woman in distress in the water,’ he said. ‘When I got to her, I saw a large amount of blood in the water. And then I realised that it was some kind of shark attack.’
Carroll said he towed Lillis back towards shore with the help of other beachgoers and attempted to provide aid until emergency responders arrived. He said her left arm was missing from the elbow down.
US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s family and commending the actions of bystanders and first responders.
‘Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the victim, and with everyone who witnessed this tragedy,’ said Bryan. ‘We have been briefed on the information known at this time, and we are grateful to the bystanders who acted immediately to render aid and to the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save her life.’
Kenneth Gittens, vice president of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, also issued a statement following the incident.
‘It is sad and shocking to hear of the apparent shark attack involving a female swimmer near the buoy at Dorsch Beach in Frederiksted,’ he said. ‘My heart goes out to her and her family, and I thank the courageous citizens who assisted her to shore and the emergency first responders for their swift action.’
The species of shark involved in the incident has not been identified. Caribbean reef sharks, grey reef sharks, blacktips, nurse and lemon sharks are all quite frequently spotted around the US Virgin Islands, but tiger sharks and bull sharks are occasionally seen in the area.
Shark biting incidents are, globally, extremely rare. The Global Shark Attack File lists just five incidents in the US Virgin Islands since 1948, three of which were fatal.
The last near St Croix was in 1972, when tech divers Rodney Temple and Bret Gilliam were attacked by a pair of oceanic whitetips. Temple was severely mauled during the incident and tragically did not survive; his body was never recovered.
The investigation into the recent incident remains ongoing. Local authorities are urging anyone who might have information to contact emergency services or the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau.
