Family of woman whose hands were bitten off by 7ft shark reveal how she & husband tried to fight off bloodthirsty beast
THE FAMILY of a woman who lost both her hands after being attacked by a shark have spoken out about the horror.
The victim, who also had a chunk of her thigh bitten off, bravely fought off the beast alongside her husband who jumped in the water to save her.
The couple were enjoying a relaxing holiday in Turks and Caicos when the horror unfolded earlier this month.
Shocking images show witnesses hold clothes against the mauled woman’s wounds.
The 55-year-old Canadian national joined her husband “in only hip deep clear water” when the deadly predator suddenly swooped.
The seven-foot beast, which is believed to be a bull shark, bumped into the swimmer’s leg before starting a violent frenzy and biting her thigh, according to her brother-in-law.
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He said: “Not satisfied, the shark came back again and when she put both hands in front of her to protect herself, the shark cut off both of her hands, one at mid-forearm and the other at the wrist.”
The victim’s brave husband then jumped between the two and heroically fought off the predator until his wife “walked out of the water and collapsed on the beach”.
She was given first aid before paramedics took her to a hospital where it was confirmed she had suffered life-changing injuries.
The ordeal saw the woman lose both of her hands, one reportedly amputated at the wrist and the other up to her forearm.
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Her mauled leg, however, was luckily saved.
The victim’s brother-in-law also revealed she was flown back to Canada by air ambulance for more surgery.
He said his brother and sister-in-law’s lives have been “completely altered in the blink of an eye,” and pleaded with people to contribute to the family's .
BULL SHARK FACTS
Bull sharks are found in both saltwater and freshwater. They can live in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
Adult bull sharks can grow up to 7 to 11 feet long
Known for their aggressive behaviour, they are considered one of the most dangerous shark species.
They are carnivores, feeding on fish, dolphins, turtles, and even other sharks.
Bull sharks can be found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
They can tolerate freshwater by regulating their salt levels in their kidneys.
The sea animals can swim at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.
Bull sharks give birth to live young, with litters typically ranging from 1 to 13 pups.
They have triangular, serrated teeth perfect for grabbing and cutting through prey.
Bull sharks are responsible for more attacks on humans than many other species, due to their aggressive nature and tendency to inhabit shallow waters near shorelines.
Last week reports suggested the victim had “engaged” with the shark in an attempt to take photos with it, but this has since been denied by witnesses who claimed the attack was unprovoked.
Police and local environmental officials confirmed the attack in the British overseas territory happened at around 10:30 on Friday February 7, in the waters off Thompson’s Cove Beach in central Providenciales.
They said: “Medical personnel and the police were dispatched to the given location in Blue Hills, Providenciales.
“The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for Treatment.”
Shark bites in the waters off the Turks and Caicos Islands are relatively rare.
Last year only one unprovoked attack was reported and was non-fatal, according to Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File (ISAF).
But the waters around the islands are still home to various types of sharks including grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks.
It comes after 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda was mauled to death by a shark near Bribie Island, Australia, earlier this month.
A heartfelt vigil held the day after by her father was attended by hundreds of mourners.
In January this year, a retired dentist fought off a savage tiger shark by jabbing its eyes after he witnessed the beast maul another man to death in front of him.
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Peppino Fappani, 69, was swimming at a resort in Egypt alongside EU diplomat Gianluca Di Gioia when the horror unfolded.
Fappani attempted to save the other man's life before he tragically died from his wounds.
