The family of a woman who lost both of her hands in a shark attack is speaking out about the moment a vacation turned into “what can only be described as a nightmare.”
As previously reported, a 55-year-old tourist was seriously injured in the “waters adjacent to Blue Hills, Providenciales” in the Turks and Caicos Islands at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 7, the government said in a Facebook post.
The victim, who hasn’t been named, was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilized and later transported off the island for further medical care.
The woman’s brother-in-law set up a GoFundMepage to help the family financially amid ongoing treatment following the incident that “has completely altered their life in the blink of an eye,” per the page.
Half Moon Bay, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Joel Villanueva/Getty
“While on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, my sister-in-law and her husband, my brother, lived what can only be described as a nightmare,” the GoFundMe description — which has been shared by numerous family members — stated.
“After leaving the beach to join her husband, in only hip deep clear water, a seven-foot bull shark came at my sister-in-law and bumped into her legs. The shark then circled around and bit her thigh,” the message continued.
The post added, “Not satisfied, the shark came back again and when she put both hands in front of her to protect herself, the shark cut off both of her hands, one at mid-forearm and the other at the wrist. Her husband, having rushed back to help, then managed to wrestle away the shark and stayed between her and the shark until she walked out of the water and collapsed on the beach.”
The GoFundMe stated the woman had since been “flown back to Canada by air ambulance to undergo further surgery and recovery,” adding that the family “will need a lot of support to get through this.”
As previously reported by PEOPLE, the beach was closed out of an “abundance of caution” following the attack and the location reopened on Sunday, Feb. 9, after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water, per the Feb. 12 release shared by the Turks and Caicos Islands government Facebook page.
Bull shark – stock photo.
Gerard Soury/Getty
The post also claimed that “the tourist had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.”
“The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life. Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances,” the post added.
PEOPLE has reached out to the victim’s brother-in-law for an update on her recovery, but didn’t immediately hear back. The GoFundMe page had raised almost $16,000 ($22,700 CAD) as of Tuesday, Feb. 18.
