A seemingly perfect day at the beach turned tragic for a Canadian tourist who lost both hands in a shark attack while trying to capture a photo in the ocean. The incident took place on a Friday near Thompson’s Cove Beach in central Providenciales, merely a few meters offshore, according to reports from The Sun.

Witnesses reported that the 55-year-old tourist tried to interact with the shark when it suddenly attacked, severing both of her hands with one aggressive bite. Family members on the beach watched helplessly, and her husband bravely jumped into the water to try and scare the predator away.

Photos from the beach show bystanders rushing to her aid, using towels to stem the significant bleeding as she remained on the shoreline. One eyewitness mentioned, “I was there for 40 minutes, and it was still lingering,” referring to the shark’s presence even after the incident.

Authorities believe the shark was around six feet long, though its specific species remains undetermined. However, reports suggest it might have been a bull shark, commonly found in these waters.

Severe Injuries Reported

Emergency responders, including police and medical teams, quickly arrived at the scene near Blue Hills, Providenciales. The tourist was swiftly taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and later airlifted back to Canada for additional treatment. Reports indicate that she lost one hand at the wrist and the other at mid-forearm.

A man at the beach noted that despite her grave injuries, the woman managed to walk back to shore and sustained a bite to her thigh, yet she did not lose her leg.

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During the terrifying moments, as her husband attempted to ward off the shark, it reportedly circled back and attacked again before finally swimming away. Officials from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police and environmental agencies confirmed the attack occurred around 10:30 a.m. on February 7.