The Caribbean is often seen as the ultimate holiday escape, with its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and luxury resorts drawing millions of tourists each year.
But beneath the picture-perfect surface lurks a hidden danger – deadly shark attacks that have left holidaymakers maimed or worse.
Earlier this month a woman suffered a horrifying attack that left both her hands completely gnawed off, sending shockwaves through the region and raising fresh concerns about the safety of swimming in these tropical waters.
And she’s not the only victim.
She is one of many in a string of gruesome encounters that have turned dream vacations into unimaginable nightmares.
While shark attacks remain rare, they have been increasing in frequency, with deadly encounters reported in popular tourist hotspots such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos.
From unsuspecting snorkelers to thrill-seeking divers, several travellers have experienced gory encounters that have shocked the Caribbean after falling prey to the jaws of the underwater beasts.
Some victims, ranging from young children to newlyweds, have been left with life-altering injuries, while others never made it back to shore.
Tourist loses both hands in shark attack while snorkeling in Turks and Caicos
A Canadian woman, 55, was mauled by a shark on February 7, 2025, while swimming in the Turks and Caicos Islands that resulted in the loss of both her hands.
The tourist was snorkeling off Providenciales when she was attacked by a 6-foot shark, believed to be a bull shark.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting she was attempting to photograph the predator, her family clarified that the encounter was unprovoked.
During the attack, the shark bit her thigh before severing her hands as she tried to defend herself.
Her husband bravely intervened, fighting off the shark and helping her reach the shore. Bystanders provided immediate first aid, using towels to stem the bleeding.
She was transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and later airlifted to Canada for further treatment where she reportedly had one of her hands amputated at the wrist and the other mid-way down her forearm.
But despite the severity of her injuries, she is expected to survive.
The family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical expenses, which raised nearly $16,000.
Her brother-in-law described the ordeal as a ‘nightmare’ and emphasised the life-altering impact of the attack.
Authorities temporarily closed the beach following the incident and have urged the public to exercise caution and respect marine wildlife to prevent similar tragedies.
Shocking pictures show people who appear to be the woman’s family helping to stem the blood flow as she lies injured on the beach
British tourist left in critical condition after shark attack in Tobago
A 64-year-old British holidaymaker was left fighting for his life after a horrifying shark attack off the coast of Tobago in April last year.
Peter Smith, from Hertfordshire, was swimming just 10 metres from the shore near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay when an estimated eight to 10-foot bull shark attacked him.
The vicious assault left Mr. Smith with severe injuries, including the loss of his left hand from the elbow down, a significant wound to his left thigh, and lacerations to his abdomen.
He was swiftly transported to Scarborough General Hospital, where he remained in intensive care in a critical but stable condition.
In response to the attack, local authorities closed seven beaches and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park as a precautionary measure.
The government also issued warnings about recent shark sightings in the area, urging both locals and tourists to exercise extreme caution.
This incident sent shockwaves through the local community and among visitors, as shark attacks in the region are exceedingly rare.
A shark (pictured) was spotted further down the coast of Tobago after the attack
Peter Smith, 64, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, lost some of his left hand’s fingers and had his leg mauled in the attack
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 was treated in intensive care at Tobago’s Scarborough General Hospital
Two female tourists mauled by shark in Bahamas – with one foot left ‘shredded’
Two American tourists, 20-year-old Rileigh Decker and 24-year-old Summer Layman, were attacked on February 7, 2025, while they were swimming in Bimini Bay, a popular resort area approximately 50 nautical miles off the Florida coast.
The women had just entered the water from a friend’s yacht when Decker felt a sudden tug on her leg.
Moments later, both were attacked by what was believed to be a bull shark.
Decker sustained severe injuries to her leg, while Layman’s foot was described as ‘shredded.’
Friends aboard the yacht quickly pulled them to safety and applied makeshift tourniquets to stem the bleeding.
They were initially treated at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention. Decker has since undergone multiple surgeries and remained hospitalised.
The incident added to a series of recent shark attacks in the Bahamas, including the tragic death of a Massachusetts woman in December 2023 and an attack on a 10-year-old Maryland boy during a shark tank expedition in January 2024.
Despite these events, shark attacks in the region remain relatively rare, with only 34 confirmed unprovoked incidents since 1580.
‘We were swimming to the ladder and I kind of felt something nudge my leg, and I looked at her and I was like: ‘What was that?” Decker said. The two women kept swimming, but Decker later felt a ‘tug’ on her leg (pictured: Decker being airlifted to a Florida hospital)
The women were airlifted to a Florida hospital, where Decker underwent two surgeries
Layman ‘didn’t realize’ she had been bitten in the foot until her friends started ‘screaming that my foot was shredded.’
Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, were enjoying a swim in Bimini Bay while their friends lounged on a boat when they encountered what they believe was a bull shark
Yale graduate loses foot after shark attacks her while she snorkeled
A Yale graduate’s celebratory trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands in May 2023 turned tragic when she was attacked by a shark while snorkeling, resulting in the loss of her foot.
The 22-year-old woman, who had just completed her studies, was enjoying the pristine waters off Grace Bay Beach – a location frequently hailed as one of the world’s premier beaches – when the incident occurred.
The attack took place during a private boat excursion, where the victim was snorkeling with a friend
Then out of nowhere, a shark, believed to be a Caribbean reef shark, bit her left foot, severing it.
Graphic images from the scene show the detached foot still inside the snorkeling flipper.
Following the attack, the woman was rushed to a local medical facility for emergency treatment. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was later airlifted to a hospital in Miami, Florida.
Unfortunately, the time elapsed during transportation rendered reattachment of the foot impossible.
A Yale graduate and Marathon runner, 22, had her foot bitten off by a shark while snorkeling off the coast of Turks and Caicos
Doctors couldn’t reattach it after emergency plane took six hours to rush her back to Miami
Child loses her leg to two sharks while scuba diving in Belize
A 15-year-old American girl lost her leg in a shark attack while scuba diving off the coast of Belize last summer.
Annabelle Carlson, from Colorado, was on a family vacation in August when the terrifying incident occurred near Lighthouse Reef, close to Half Moon Caye.
After completing a dive, Annabelle re-entered the water for a swim when she was suddenly attacked by two sharks.
One of the predators clamped onto her leg, initiating a desperate struggle.
Despite the excruciating pain, Annabelle described the sensation as akin to a ‘tug of war,’ likely due to the surge of adrenaline.
Her mother, Kellie Carlson, along with tour operators from Belize Dive Pro, acted swiftly to rescue her, providing critical first aid before she was airlifted to a trauma center in the United States.
Annabelle’s injuries were severe, necessitating the amputation of her right leg and multiple surgeries to address a serious bacterial infection.
Remarkably, she maintained a positive outlook throughout her recovery and was fitted with a prosthetic leg.
She expressed gratitude for her survival and emphasized the importance of hope during challenging times.
The attack was described as an exceedingly rare event in Belize, with local officials noting that such incidents are virtually unprecedented in the area.
Te incident followed a similar attack in June, where another 15-year-old girl, Lulu Gribbin, suffered significant injuries from a shark in Florida.
Tourist mauled to death by 8ft tiger shark while snorkelling
An Italian tourist was killed after being savaged by a eight ft tiger shark while snorkelling in a popular holiday spot off the coast of a Caribbean island in 2022.
The victim, identified as 56-year-old Antonio Roseto Degli Abruzzi, had been swimming in La Piscinita, a well-known snorkelling area on the Colombian island of San Andrés, when the predator latched onto his leg.
Despite initially surviving the attack, Mr Abruzzi suffered catastrophic blood loss and was rushed to hospital, where he went into hypovolemic shock and later died.
Reports said he had lost a large chunk of his right thigh in the brutal mauling.
The attack, believed to be the first of its kind in the area, left locals shocked and fearful. Diving instructor Mirla Zambrano, 50, told The Daily Star that the incident had left people ‘very worried.’
Witnesses described the horrifying moment Mr Abruzzi screamed for help as blood filled the water around him.
‘After coming back towards the shore, he began to shout out for help and was surrounded by blood,’ one onlooker told local media at the time.
Mr Abruzzi, described as ‘a good swimmer,’ had reportedly been in the water for some time before the shark struck. At the time of the attack, a handful of other swimmers were also in the area.
Local media called the incident ‘unusual and tragic,’ as tiger sharks – while considered the second most deadly species after great whites – rarely attack humans.
Antonio Roseto Degli Abruzzi, 56, had been swimming in La Piscinita, a well-known snorkelling area on the Colombian island of San Andrés, when the predator latched onto his leg
Mr Abruzzi screamed for help as blood filled the water around him
Newlywed wife has her arm gnawed by shark on honeymoon
A newlywed couple’s honeymoon in the Bahamas turned into a harrowing ordeal when the bride was attacked by a shark during a snorkeling excursion.
Sarah and Evan Carroll from Charleston, South Carolina, were enjoying the final day of their romantic getaway when the incident occurred in December.
The couple had decided to swim with sharks at their resort, an activity they believed to be safe.
Evan was recording Sarah as she swam gracefully among the marine life when, without warning, a nurse shark lunged at her, sinking its teeth into her arm.
The sudden attack left Sarah in shock and immense pain.
‘Pretty much felt like my worst fear was coming true,’ Sarah later recounted.
Despite the excruciating pain, she managed to stay calm as Evan and the tour guides rushed to her aid. They applied pressure to her wound and transported her back to shore, where she received immediate medical attention.
Sarah was taken to a local clinic before being airlifted to a hospital in Florida for further treatment.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters, even in controlled environments.
While nurse sharks are generally considered docile, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Experts advise tourists to maintain a respectful distance from all marine animals and to follow the guidance of trained professionals during such activities.
Teenager dies after being left decapitated by shark in Jamaica
A 16-year-old boy tragically lost his life in a horrific shark attack off the coast of Jamaica.
The incident occurred near Montego Bay, a popular tourist destination, where the teenager was spearfishing alone.
The victim, identified as Jahmari Reid from Falmouth, Trelawny, was reported missing on August 26, 2024.
His decapitated body, with the head and left arm severed, was discovered the following day by local divers.
Fishermen in the area suspected a large tiger shark, spotted near the recovery site, was responsible for the attack.
Jahmari, a student at William Knibb Memorial High School, was known for his passion for the sea.
His father, Michael Reid, expressed deep sorrow, stating, ‘I can’t believe that he went to sea by himself… and that was the outcome. Sad to know. I feel so bad.’
This tragic event marked a rare occurrence, as shark attacks are uncommon in Jamaican waters.
Jahmari Reid, a 16-year-old, was decapitated in a horror shark attack after he went off swimming by himself last summer
Divers recovered Jahmari Reid’s body off the coast of Jamaica with his head reportedly bitten off and his left arm missing
Man mauled by predators after falling from boat into shark-infested waters
A Florida fisherman, Marlin Wakeman, experienced a harrowing ordeal after falling into shark-infested waters at a Bahamas marina.
The incident occurred on May 10, 2024, when Wakeman, 24, was attempting to secure his vessel at the dock.
He lost his footing and plunged into the water, where he was immediately surrounded by several sharks.
Eyewitnesses reported that Wakeman was attacked almost instantly, sustaining severe injuries to his lower body.
Bystanders acted swiftly, using poles and other equipment to fend off the sharks and pull him back onto the dock.
Emergency services were called, and Wakeman was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Local authorities issued warnings to mariners and tourists about the presence of sharks in the area, advising caution during water-related activities.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can arise in marine environments, even in locations frequented by visitors.
