Shark attacked tourist as she tried to take its picture in Turks and Caicos, authorities say
A shark attacked and injured a Canadian tourist as she tried to take its picture in the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this month, according to local authorities.
The attack occurred the morning of February 7 at a beach on Providenciales, one of the territory's eastern islands, per a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force.
'The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for treatment,' the police statement said, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a press statement posted on social media, the Caribbean territory's environmental department said that the tourist 'had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.'
'The shark was estimated to be approximately 6ft in length, however the species is yet to be confirmed,' it continued.
Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian government body that manages diplomatic relations, said it was aware of 'a Canadian citizen who experienced an accident in Turks and Caicos.'
'Consular officials have contacted local authorities to gather information and stand-ready to provide consular assistance,' Global Affairs continued.
Global Affairs declined to offer further information out of privacy concerns.
CNN has reached out to the Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources for further comment, as well as a spokesperson for the archipelago's tourism authority.
Though popular movies like 'Jaws' have given sharks a reputation for hostility and aggression, attacks on humans are extremely rare, especially in Turks and Caicos. Per the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File, which tracks such incidents, there were only 3 recorded shark attacks in Turks and Caicos between 1749 and 2024. The Bahamas, meanwhile, recorded 33 in that period.
One of those rare attacks occurred just two years ago in 2023, when a shark bit a snorkeling American woman. She lost her leg in that attack, which the Florida Museum included in their 2023 annual report.
Dr. Gavin Naylor, who manages to the Shark Attack File, said that the most recent attack would be added to the total next February, when the database releases its yearly roundup.
There are about 30 different kinds of shark in that part of the Caribbean, according to Naylor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
40 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom Challenges JD Vance: 'How About Saying It to My Face?'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday challenged Vice President JD Vance to a debate after the vice president visited Los Angeles and accused him of "egging on" violent disorder in the city. In a post on his X, formerly Twitter, account, the governor wrote: "...Since you're so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face?" Newsweek contacted Vance for comment on Saturday via email to the White House press office outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have expanded their operations in Los Angeles and across the country as President Donald Trump seeks to deliver on his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in United States history. ICE conducted raids in Los Angeles and faced large protests in the city that largely remained peaceful with some instances of violence that prompted Trump to order the deployment of 4,000 members of California's National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to assist in stopping violence, even as Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisted local law enforcement had the matter under control and a legal battle has pursued. The raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, but critics have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants by federal authorities as well as the tactics used by immigration agents during the raids. What To Know During his visit to Los Angeles on Friday to meet with troops, including Marines who have been deployed to protect federal buildings in the city, Vance said rioters had been "egged on" by Newsom and Bass, telling reporters: "The president has a very simple proposal to everybody in every city, every community, every town whether big or small. If you enforce your own laws and if you protect federal law enforcement, we're not going to send in the national guard because it's unnecessary. He added: "But if you let violent rioters burn great American cities to the ground, then of course we're going to send in federal law enforcement to protect the people the president was elected to protect." Vance also referred to Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was handcuffed and forcibly removed from a press conference DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was holding in Los Angeles earlier this month, as "Jose Padilla." Noem has said Padilla did not identify himself when he arrived at the conference, but Padilla disputes the claim. Responding on X, Newsom wrote: "Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California. Since you're so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face? Let's debate. Time and place?" In a separate X post, the governor shared a clip of Vance calling Padilla "Jose Padilla," adding: "JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him 'Jose Padilla' is not an accident." California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on March 26 in Los Angeles. Vice President JD Vance addresses the press following a tour of the multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center at the Wilshire Federal Building on June... California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on March 26 in Los Angeles. Vice President JD Vance addresses the press following a tour of the multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center at the Wilshire Federal Building on June 20 in Los Angeles. More Frazer Harrison/WireImage/Scott Olson/GETTY What People Are Saying Referring to the Padilla incident, a Vance spokesperson previously told Newsweek that: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said: "Mr. Vice President, how dare you disrespect our senator. You don't know his name," Bass questioned. "But yet you served with him before you were vice president and you continue to serve with him today, because the last time I checked, the vice president of the United States is the president of the U.S. Senate." She added: "You serve with him today and how dare you disrespect him and call him 'Jose.' But I guess he just looked like anybody to you. Well, he's not just anybody to us. He is our senator." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last week: "I campaigned on, and received a Historic Mandate for, the largest Mass Deportation Program in American History. Polling shows overwhelming Public Support for getting the Illegals out, and that is exactly what we will do. As Commander-in-Chief, I will always protect and defend the Heroes of ICE and Border Patrol, whose work has already resulted in the Most Secure Border in American History. Anyone who assaults or attacks an ICE or Border Agent will do hard time in jail. Those who are here illegally should either self deport using the CBP Home App or, ICE will find you and remove you. Saving America is not negotiable!" What Happens Next? Vance has yet to respond to Newsom's offer of a debate and it remains to be seen if he will do so. In December 2023, Newsom debated against Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis after the two went back-and-forth on their policies. Meanwhile, a U.S. appeals court on Thursday unanimously blocked a lower court ruling that put Newsom back in control of National Guard troops that Trump deployed to Los Angeles. The appeals court ruled that the president can keep control of the guardsmen while legal proceedings in the case continue.
Bloomberg
40 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Canada Says Network Devices Compromised in China-Linked Hack
Canada's cybersecurity agency said Chinese-backed hackers were likely behind recent malicious activity targeting domestic telecommunications infrastructure, warning that three network devices registered to a Canadian company were compromised in the attacks. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation urged Canadian organizations to take steps to harden their networks against the threat posed by Salt Typhoon, a group linked to the Chinese government, in a bulletin issued late on Friday.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Feds charge man for buying fireworks in NM, claiming he was going to use them against police in LA
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing fireworks in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during protests in California, according to the Department of Justice. 'Threats like these strike at the heart of law and order — we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement or endanger the safety of our communities,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in part in a news release. Story continues below Wildfire: House sitter becomes unexpected hero, saving four protected raptors during Trout Fire Trending: New restaurant in Old Town takes over space left by beloved eatery Crime: Man sentenced for stealing copper in downtown Albuquerque News: Feds charge man for buying fireworks in NM, claiming he was going to use them against police in LA The feds said Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg to purchase the fireworks on June 12, 2025. While there, Vandenberg reportedly asked the cashier about the biggest fireworks that he could buy and the ones that could cause harm, according to court documents. Vandenberg told store employees that he was a prior special forces military and claimed he could make pipe bombs. He then reportedly told employees that he was traveling to Los Angeles for the 'riots' with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials, court documents stated. Store staff reported that Vandenberg invited an employee to join him and his platoon in California and also claimed to have mortar explosives in his possession and reiterated his plan to use them to kill officers, per court documents. Officials said Vandenberg purchased six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 large fireworks before leaving the store in a vehicle with Montana license plates, heading west on Interstate 10. Before he could leave, the cashier wrote down the vehicle's license plate number, officials said. 'Our message is clear: If you come after law enforcement officers, the FBI will spare no effort to find you and bring you to justice,' said FBI Director Kash Patel in the news release. 'This defendant allegedly intended to use explosives to attack police officers currently conducting law enforcement operations in Los Angeles and – with the help of a store cashier who took down his license plate information – we were able to put a stop to that plan. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve the American people and the FBI will always do our part to protect them.' Vandenberg is charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with the knowledge and intent that they would be used to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals. The DOJ said Vandenberg will remain in custody on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Vandenberg faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
