The 55-year-old was engaging with the shark in the shallows
While some things might make others run in fear, you might instead be tempted to stay put and snap a photo of it.
I mean, we’ve all used the ‘do it for the gram’ phrase before and unfortunately, the consequences aren’t always so aesthetic.
And pretty tragically, this woman had her hands bitten off by a shark after she reportedly ‘tried to take a photo of the animal’.
Named in local reports as Nathalie Ross, the Canadian was in the shallow waters off Thompson’s Cove Beach on the Turks and Caicos Island in the morning of 7 February when the attack took place.
It’s believed the 55-year-old tourist’s husband attempted to fight off the shark before people managed to bring her to shore.
Photos online show her lying on the beach as others surround her and attempt to stop the bleeding.
It is reported that Ross lost both her hands in the shark attack as it also bit into her thigh. The woman was airlifted to hospital and it’s expected she will survive.
“On Friday 7 February a tourist was injured by a shark in the waters adjacent to Blue Hills, Providenciales,” The Turks & Caicos Islands Government said in a statement.
“The individual was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilised and later flown off island for further medical care.”
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Government officials then closed the beach ‘in an abundance of caution’ until 9 February once it had been determined that the shark had moved on to deeper water.
“The shark was estimated to be approximately 6ft in length, however the species is yet to be confirmed,” the statement added.
It continued that after investigation, it had been determined that the woman ‘had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs’.
The statement then concluded with a stark warning: “The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life.
“Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances.”
These waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos are home to a number of shark species.
Visit Turks and Caicos Islands says there have been four shark attacks between 2021 and 2025, with all victims surviving. It adds that sharks are ‘generally quite rare’ at the more popular beaches and while the occasional shark is sighted in those areas, it’s typically ‘a very docile shark’.
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