A Minnesota woman died in the U.S. Virgin Islands after a shark ripped her arm off on Thursday and a Utah nurse frantically swam to her side to nearly save her, officials said.
First responders on the island of St. Croix were called at about 4:28 p.m. local time with reports of “a female who was suspected to be bitten by a shark at Dorsch Beach,” according to a Virgin Islands Police Department statement.
Firefighters “confirmed that the female lost an arm during the attack” and she “later succumbed to her injures,” police said.
The victim was identified as 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Detroit Lakes, in northwest Minnesota near the border with North Dakota.
Christopher Carroll, a registered nurse from Spanish Fork, Utah who was on vacation with his wife, heard a woman screaming from the water and he frantically swam out to help her.
“When I got maybe 10, 15 yards from her, I could see all the blood in the water, and that’s when I realized, ‘Oh, God, this is a shark attack or something,’ ” Carroll told NBC News.
The woman had lost her left arm from the elbow down.
“I knew it was a big, big shark,” Carroll recalled. “And that was the most terrifying moments … knowing that there’s blood in the water, knowing there’s a very large shark that’s aggressive and not knowing if it’s still there. Is it coming back? Is it going to come back for her? Is it going to hit me?”
The victim was conscious as Carroll towed her back to shore and as able to tell him her name.
“I just just kept trying to reassure that she she wasn’t alone, that you know, they were going to get her help and get her to the hospital,” he said.
Rescuers had initially believed there was a second victim but Lillis appeared to be the only person involved in this shark attack.
“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the victim, and with everyone who witnessed this tragedy,” U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said in a statement.
“We have been briefed on the information known at this time, and we are grateful to the bystanders who acted immediately to render aid and to the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save her life,” the statement said.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach also thanked everyone who tried to help Lillis.
“On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and all who are grieving this loss,” Roach said. “In moments like this, we are reminded how quickly life can change. We thank the individuals on the scene who stepped forward to help, and we commend our first responders for their swift action and professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances.”
Carroll said he was deeply saddened by the woman’s death but takes comfort that she had a fighting chance.
“You know at least she had people to help her and and she wasn’t alone,” he said. “So I’m taking some comfort in that.”
Insiya Gandhi, Sara Mhaidli and Alexa Keyes contributed.
