US woman injured in shark attack in Turks and Caicos Islands

An American woman visiting Turks and Caicos is hospitalized in serious condition after being attacked by a shark while snorkeling, police said.

In a press release shared on social media Wednesday night, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said the unidentified woman, 22, was from Connecticut.

According to further police reports, she snorkeled with a friend on Providenciales, the third largest island in the country.

It’s not clear how the two escaped the shark and returned to shore. Police said a resort worker called the police at around 3:07 p.m. local time and requested an ambulance.

“The employee stated that the female victim had her leg bitten off by a shark,” police said.

The woman was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, also on Providenciales, where she remains in what police said is a serious condition.

Shark attacks are rare. The University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File recorded just 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide last year. Of these, five were fatal. Experts say that most shark attacks involve a mistake in identity, just as a shark mistakes a human for a seal or other prey.

To stay safe in the water Wildlife experts recommend Stay close to shore and swim with a buddy, use caution when swimming on a sandbar or cliff, be careful not to wear shiny jewelry or high-contrast clothing that can attract sharks, and avoid swimming with open wounds or injuries. Swimmers should also avoid being near fishing activities that might attract sharks and avoid murky or murky waters that might obscure an approaching shark. If you see a shark, return to shore slowly and calmly.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to remove the name of a resort previously mentioned by police.