British tourist in intensive care after Tobago shark attack
A BRITISH tourist is in intensive care after suffering serious injuries in a rare shark attack off the coast of Tobago.
The man, named by officials as Peter Smith, 64, of Berkhamsted, Herts, is being treated at the Caribbean island’s Scarborough General Hospital.
Mr Smith was reported to have been only 30ft from the shore on Turtle Beach, a popular spot near the Starfish resort on the south-western tip of the island, when the shark struck at about 9am local time on Friday. Witnesses said he was only waist-deep in the water at the time and believe he was attacked from behind by a bull shark, measuring between 8ft and 10ft long.
Mr Smith is believed to be in a stable condition but has suffered serious injuries to his left arm, left leg and stomach.
Farley Augustine, the leader of the Tobagonian government, said doctors had managed to reattach some of his fingers.
Mr Augustine said that Mr Smith and his wife, Joanna, and friends had been due to fly home to the UK on the day of the attack and added the local government was working closely with the British High Commission to “ensure that the family gets all that they need during this difficult time”.
Other people tried to fight off the shark during the attack and managed to bring Mr Smith to shore, where a passer-by bandaged his wounds before an ambulance arrived, one witness told the local newspaper Newsday.
Bull sharks, which often frequent shallow water and can even venture into the fresh water of river mouths, are known for their aggression.
Along with tiger sharks and great whites, they are one of the three shark species most frequently involved in attacks on humans.
Shark attacks in Tobago are extremely rare – records show only two other incidents in the past 20 years.
Officials immediately closed beaches on Tobago’s western coast and issued a temporary ban on reef tours and scuba diving. They are also using drones to scan the waters. A $10,000 (£7,910) bounty was initially offered to any fishing crew who could capture the shark, but this was later withdrawn to keep people out of the water.
Peter Smith, 64, is dragged to safety by swimmers, but suffers serious injuries to arm, leg and stomach