A woman tragically lost her life in a shark attack during her vacation, where she was discovered severely injured with a missing arm. Arlene Lillis, aged 56, was swimming near the coastline in the US Virgin Islands when witnesses heard a distressing scream. Initially mistaken for struggling in the water, it became apparent that she was bleeding profusely from her arm after the shark attack.
Following the incident, Arlene was found with her arm severed below the elbow, and despite being in a critical condition, she managed to communicate with her rescuers. Two courageous swimmers assisted in bringing her ashore and promptly called for emergency medical aid. They improvised a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from her injured arm.
Christopher Carroll, a former lifeguard involved in the rescue, shared that he tried to comfort Arlene while she was conscious. Ryan Connot, the other swimmer, mentioned that Arlene was able to share her name but sadly expressed her fear of dying. Despite efforts to save her, the loss of blood proved fatal.
Described by her neighbor Andrew Gamble as a proud mother, Arlene hailed from Minnesota, USA, and was known for her compassionate nature. She had previously shown kindness by adopting and caring for an injured stray dog, reflecting her caring personality.
The tragic incident took place near the shore on the western coast of St Croix on a Thursday afternoon. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, with Daryl Jaschen, director of the Virgin Islands’ emergency management agency, praising the professionalism of the response team despite challenging circumstances.
A frequent visitor to the US Virgin Islands, Arlene was transported to a local hospital for treatment but succumbed to her injuries, as confirmed by Lt. Gov Tregenza Roach. Authorities initially suspected a second victim, but subsequent searches did not reveal any other casualties.
While the specific shark species involved in the attack remains unconfirmed, authorities noted the rarity of shark attacks in the US Virgin Islands, despite frequent shark sightings. Nicole Angeli of the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources highlighted the infrequency of shark encounters resulting in bites, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and safety measures around wildlife.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, as per Jaschen, who expressed uncertainty regarding the factors leading the shark to approach the shore. Notably, there have been 79 reported unprovoked shark attacks in the Caribbean since 1749, with four incidents recorded in the US Virgin Islands, according to the International Shark Attack File based in Florida.
