A woman tragically lost her life in a shark attack while on vacation, where she was discovered in a pool of blood with a severe injury to her arm.
The victim, identified as Arlene Lillis, aged 56, was swimming near the shore in the US Virgin Islands when witnesses heard a distressing scream. Initially mistaking it for swimming difficulties, onlookers soon noticed her arm bleeding profusely.
Following the shark encounter, Arlene’s arm was missing below the elbow, and she was having difficulty communicating when rescued. Two brave individuals managed to bring her to safety, urgently calling for medical assistance and improvising a tourniquet to stem the blood loss.
Christopher Carroll, a former lifeguard who aided in the rescue, mentioned, “She was conscious. I tried to reassure her throughout.” Another rescuer, Ryan Connot, recounted that Arlene was able to convey her name but sadly expressed her belief that she wouldn’t survive. Regrettably, due to significant blood loss, she passed away.
Described by her neighbor, Andrew Gamble, Arlene was a devoted mother originally from Minnesota, USA. Notably, she had shown compassion by adopting and caring for an injured stray dog.
According to authorities, the shark attack happened near the coastline of western St Croix on a Thursday afternoon. Emergency response teams swiftly attended to the scene, providing urgent medical care to Lillis under challenging circumstances, as stated by Daryl Jaschen, the director of the Virgin Islands’ emergency management agency.
Despite being a frequent visitor to the region, Lillis succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a local hospital, as confirmed by Lt. Gov Tregenza Roach. Although initial reports suggested a possible second victim, a thorough search yielded no additional casualties.
Officials have yet to identify the shark species responsible for the attack. While shark sightings are common in the area, incidents of attacks in the US Virgin Islands are uncommon.
Nicole Angeli of the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources highlighted the rarity of shark bites in the region, noting that Thursday’s incident marked the second in ten years. Plans are underway to enhance safety measures by installing more signage and providing information on wildlife safety at beaches and hotels.
The ongoing investigation, led by the emergency management agency’s Jaschen, aims to determine the circumstances that led to the shark’s proximity to the shore.
Data from the International Shark Attack File based in Florida reveals a total of 79 unprovoked shark attacks in the Caribbean since 1749, including four in the US Virgin Islands.
“Tragic Shark Attack Claims Life of Woman in US Virgin Islands”
