Sharks have often been seen as the main ‘bad guys’ in stories, TV shows, and movies for a long time. It’s easy to label these top predators as ‘evil, blood-thirsty creatures.’ However, in reality, sharks are just normal animals acting on their instincts. Usually, if humans leave them alone, sharks aren’t a real danger. But if they feel threatened, whether on purpose or by accident, things can change quickly. Sadly, this is what happened to a woman who was on vacation in Grand Turks and Caicos with her husband last week, resulting in her losing both of her hands.
Woman Loses Hands in Shark Attack
A sad shark attack near Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands has left a 55-year-old woman seriously hurt. This incident happened on February 7th when the tourist was trying to take pictures with a shark in the waters near Blue Hills. The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) reported that the attack resulted in the loss of the woman’s hands. She was quickly taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where doctors stabilized her condition before she was flown to another hospital for more treatment.
Authorities and witnesses are not completely sure what type of shark was involved, but they believe it was around 6 feet long, possibly a bull shark or a tiger shark. In response to the attack, officials closed the beaches from Thompson’s Cove Beach to Froggies ATV in Blue Hills as a safety measure. The beaches were reopened later after it was confirmed that the shark had moved to deeper waters.
Witnesses mentioned that the shark had been swimming in the shallow area for some time before the attack. It was likely during this time that the woman decided to take out her phone to snap a picture of the shark. While she was taking her photos, the shark seemed to think her phone was either food or a threat. Her terrified husband jumped into the water to try to scare the shark away, but unfortunately, it had already bitten off the woman’s hands.
Recent Rise in Shark Attacks
This event happens during a time when there have been several shark attacks around the world, including separate cases in the Bahamas and Australia. In the Bahamas, two American women were bitten by a shark near Bimini Island. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old girl in Australia tragically lost her life after a shark bite at Bribie Island, which is north of Brisbane. These incidents are part of a bigger trend of unprovoked shark attacks, which the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) says are actually decreasing. The ISAF, managed by the Florida Museum of Natural History, reported in 2024 that there were only 47 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally, a drop from 69 the year before.
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, who leads the Florida Program for Shark Research, emphasized how crucial it is to learn about shark behavior to help avoid dangerous situations. For instance, it’s best not to swim in cloudy waters and to steer clear of what locals call ‘shark o’clock,’ which is early morning and late evening. Also, avoid swimming in marinas or harbors, especially near places where fishing occurs. When fishermen catch fish, they often clean them right there, and the leftover parts are thrown back into the water. Sharks are attracted to these scraps, thinking they’ve found an easy meal. Additionally, it’s wise to skip wearing shiny items while swimming. Things like jewelry or sparkly swimsuits can look like fish scales to a shark. In the unfortunate incident, the shine from the woman’s phone might have been mistaken for food by the shark.
Lastly, it’s important to give sharks plenty of space. While you might see videos of people swimming with sharks and pushing them away when they get too close, that doesn’t mean you should try it too. Being so close to sharks increases your chances of an accident. And remember, never attempt to feed a shark. This not only puts your safety at risk but also endangers others by teaching sharks that humans are a source of 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 swim steadily back to the shore or a boat. If possible, keep the shark in your sight by facing it while you swim.
- Avoid splashing or making quick movements, as this might catch the shark’s attention. Swim smoothly and quietly.
- Stay away from areas with schools of fish, seals, or sea lions, since these are often what sharks hunt.
- If a shark comes near you, keep eye contact and try to look bigger.
- If the shark gets too close, use anything around you as a shield or hit its sensitive spots, like its eyes or gills, but only if it seems like it’s about to attack. You want to defend yourself, not provoke it.
- If you can’t get away from the shark, curl up into a tight ball to protect your important organs.
Keep in mind that shark attacks are uncommon, and most sharks don’t see humans as food. It’s crucial to stay aware and ready, but also to have fun in the water safely.
The Bottom Line
Even though recent shark attacks might worry some people, it’s important to realize that these events are still quite rare. By being careful and learning about how sharks act, we can reduce the chances of running into them, which helps keep everyone at the beach safe. Remember, when you’re swimming, you’re in their home, not the other way around. By knowing how sharks behave, you can steer clear of close encounters. This way, you can enjoy the ocean while allowing sharks to live their lives peacefully.
