Tourist Seriously Injured on Vacation After She Approached Shark for a Picture, Authorities Say

Mar. 15, 2025

A sunny day at Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Cacos.Photo:Getty

Getty

A 55-year-old tourist was seriously injured in the Turks and Caicos when she was attacked while trying to “engage” with a shark for a photo, authorities said.

The incident happened in Blue Hills, Providenciales, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 7,the government said in a Facebook post.

The victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilized and later transported off the island for further medical care.

Her identity has not been shared, and the extent of her injury was not immediately clear.

It is also unclear what type of shark attacked the woman, but it was estimated to be about six feet in length, officials said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

After it was determined that the victim initiated the attack, the country’s Department of Environment & Coastal Resources urged the public to “always be aware of your surroundings” and not to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances.

source: people.com