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7 months ago
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A British tourist who was rushed to hospital in critical condition after being savaged by a bull shark during a Caribbean holiday is now 'aware of what is happening' and 'is able to communicate'.
Peter Smith, 64, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, lost fingers from his left hand, sustained puncture wounds to the abdomen and suffered a serious leg injury in the attack by Turtle Beach near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay, Tobago, at around 9am on Friday.
Surgeons at Tobago's Scarborough General Hospital managed to reattach several of his fingers but he was kept in intensive care with his leg in tatters.
Now his wife Jo has said he is awake and communicating with his medical team, despite remaining in intensive care - and added two friends bravely fought off the shark while Peter was dragged out to safety.
'Peter is aware of what is happening and is able to communicate a little, although he is still under strong medication,' Jo said.
She went on to thank 'all those that assisted at the scene, especially the two friends that remained in the water to battle the shark, and the wonderfully kind people of Tobago for all their help and support'.
Peter Smith, 64, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, (pictured) lost fingers and sustained major limb injuries in the attack by Turtle Beach near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay, Tobago
Surgeons at Tobago's Scarborough General Hospital managed to reattach several of his fingers but he was kept in intensive care with his leg in tatters
Mr Smith was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. A few of his fingers were reattached but he has remained in intensive care at Tobago's Scarborough General Hospital with 'significant wounds' to his leg that will need 'extensive work'
The British holidaymaker is being treated intensive care at Tobago's Scarborough General Hospital
A shark (pictured) was spotted further down the coast in Buccoo after the attack
Tobagonian authorities have closed seven beaches as they search for the search to 'neutralise the threat' of the shark, which is 10ft long and two feet wide.
A water sports manager who saw the attack 10 yards from the shore said fellow holidaymakers tried to fight off the shark, which 'nobody saw coming'.
Orion Jakerov, water sports manager at the Starfish Hotel, said: 'I don't think hey saw it.
'They were in about waist-deep to shoulder-high water, so they weren't out of their depth.
'I think their backs were turned and they were just lounging around and nobody saw the shark coming.
'Even while the shark was doing the attack, the other people in the water were physically trying to fight off the shark.'
Doctors said Peter sustained 'significant wounds' to his leg that will need 'extensive work', with witnesses reporting he had also sustained lacerations to his stomach.
Tobagonian Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the victim was with his wife and friends and had intended to fly home later that day.
He said the local government was working with the British High Commission to 'ensure that the family gets all that they need during this difficult time'.
He added: 'The task at this time for our health professionals is really to stabilise and ensure that we can save life and limb as much as possible.'
A bounty of $10,000 (£8,010) was offered to anyone who could capture the shark and move it away from the beaches - but this was later retracted after it sparked fierce criticism from environmentalists.
Bull sharks, which can be found in both fresh and saltwater, are known to be one of the more aggressive types of shark and are responsible for the majority of incidents recorded close to shorelines
Tobagonian Chief Secretary Farley Augustine shared footage of the shark to social media
Orion Jakerov (pictured), water sports manager at the Starfish Hotel, said: 'Nobody saw the shark coming'
The incident occurred close to the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay (pictured), with the victim being named locally as Peter Smith, 64, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Speaking to Tobago Channel 5, witness Stephanie Wright, from West Sussex, said: 'We saw some people on the beach, and I originally thought the gentleman had had a cardiac arrest, and I thought they were helping him.
'And then I saw someone running down with a towel, and then I saw a dorsal fin come out of the water and thought, 'Oh my God, it's a shark.'
'As it turned, I saw the tail come out as well'.
Authorities have also stopped reef tours and scuba diving as a precaution.
In a statement Chief Secretary Augustine said: 'Out of an abundance of caution (for the remaining portions of today), we are forced to temporarily close beaches: Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay and all coastal areas in between.
'Currently, we are doing drone reconnaissance/surveillance, Coast Guard surveillance and the Department of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety.'
Bull sharks, which can be found in both fresh and saltwater, are known to be one of the more aggressive types of shark and are responsible for the majority of incidents recorded close to shorelines.
They are one of three shark species, alongside tiger and great white that are the most likely to attack humans.
Shark attacks are rare. Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide, along with 14 deaths, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
Are bull sharks dangerous?
Bull sharks are the most dangerous sharks in the world, according to many experts.
This is because they're an aggressive species of shark, and they tend to hunt in waters where people often swim: along tropical shorelines.
Bull sharks live throughout the world, in shallow, warm ocean waters.
They've been known to swim up into freshwater rivers.
Humans are not part of a bull shark's normal prey.
Bull sharks will eat almost anything, but their diet consists mainly of fish.
They also sometimes eat dolphins and sea turtles.
Bull sharks even eat other sharks. They hunt during the day and at night.
Source: National Geographic
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