'Nobody saw the shark coming': British holidaymaker, 64, fights for his life after being attacked by bull shark 10 yards from shore in Tobago - as doctors battle to re-attach fingers and save his mauled leg

A British tourist is fighting for his life after a bull shark attacked him while on holiday in the Caribbean yesterday.

Peter Smith, 64, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, lost some of his left fingers in the attack by Turtle Beach near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay, Tobago, at around 9am on Friday.

A few 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'.

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'.

Did YOU see what happened? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk

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.'

The man also reportedly suffered 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 '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$10,000 (£8,010) was offered to anyone who could capture the shark and move it away from the beaches - but this has now been retracted.

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.