‘Attempted to engage:’ Woman loses both hands trying to take photos with shark in Turks and Caicos

A woman from Canada lost both her hands when she was attacked by a shark after trying to take a picture with the animal while swimming in Turks and Caicos, according to the New York Post.

The 55-year-old woman was snorkeling off Providenciales on Feb. 7 when she was attacked by the estimated 6-foot-long shark, according to a news release by the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources

“Further to the investigation, it has been determined that the tourist had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.” the release said in part.

The woman was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilized and later flown off the island for further medical care, officials said.

The woman had to have one arm amputated below the wrist and the other halfway up her forearm, the Post reported.

The beaches in the area were closed “in an abundance of caution,” but later reopened on Sunday, officials said.

The attack came on the same day that two Florida women were attacked by a shark in the Bahamas while swimming in Bimini Bay, a resort area about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Florida.

In that attack, Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, were attacked by what they believe was a bull shark after the women jumped into the water off a yacht.

Decker and Layman were treated locally and airlifted to a hospital in the Bahamas before being flown back to Brevard County, where they continue to recover.

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