A British tourist was attacked by a shark in the southeastern Caribbean on Friday, prompting the government of Trinidad and Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park. The man is currently hospitalized in an intensive care unit, while authorities investigate the incident and work to neutralize the shark threat.
A shark attack on a British tourist in the southeastern Caribbean on Friday has raised concerns about the safety of swimmers and prompted the government of Trinidad and Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park.
The attack occurred at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay on the island of Tobago. The victim, a 53-year-old British man, was swimming when he was bitten on the leg. He was rushed to the hospital in an intensive care unit, where he is currently recovering.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago issued a statement saying that shark sightings had been reported in the area, including the Grafton area and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. As a result, the following beaches and the marine park were closed:
* Turtle Beach
* Grafton Beach
* Store Bay
* Pigeon Point Beach
* Englishman's Bay
* Little Bay
* Mount Irvine Bay
* Buccoo Reef Marine Park
The closures will allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the incident and take steps to neutralize the shark threat, if possible. Authorities are using boats and aircraft to search for the shark and monitor the area for any further sightings.
Shark attacks are rare in the southeastern Caribbean, but they do occur. In 2021, there were two reported shark attacks in Trinidad and Tobago, both of which were non-fatal.
According to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide in 2022. There were also 14 fatalities.
Swimmers are advised to be aware of their surroundings and to take precautions to minimize their risk of being attacked by a shark. These precautions include swimming in clear water, avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk, and not swimming near areas where there are known to be sharks.
