Family of Canadian who lost hands to shark describes ‘nightmare’ attack

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The family of a Canadian who lost both of her hands in a shark attack is speaking out about the life-altering moment a vacation turned into “a nightmare.”

The 55-year-old woman was swimming on the Providenciales island of Turks and Caicos when she suffered the horrific injuries at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 7, the government said in a Facebook post.

The victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was stabilized before being transported back to Canada for “further surgery and recovery.”

A GoFundMe campaign organized by the victim’s brother-in-law has raised more than $25,000.

“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,” Al Chevarie, of Shannon, Que., wrote on behalf of Ralph Chevarie. The woman’s name was not included in the campaign.

“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 fundraiser read.

“Not satisfied, the shark came back again and when she put both hands in front of her to protect herself, the shark instantly amputated 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.”

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As previously reported, the woman had only ventured “a few yards” into the water at Thompson Cove Beach when she was attacked, according to officials.

The species of shark has yet to be confirmed but authorities “determined that the tourist had attempted to engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs.”

The waters of the archipelago’s extensive barrier reef are home to many types of sharks, however bull sharks are uncommon, according to tourism website VisitTCI, noting that shark attacks are even more rare.

The site mentioned a May 2024 shark attack of a kiteboarder from Prince Edward Island who was seriously injured while snorkelling.

Lucas Arsenault shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed with his lower right leg apparently missing and his left leg and forearm heavily bandaged.

“Life can sure be fragile,” he wrote at the time. “It was a shocking experience. I cannot express how lucky I am to be here.

Chevarie noted on his sister-in-law’s fundraising page that his brother served in the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 30 years.

“He served our country with pride; it’s our turn to help them,” the message reads.

“This is something that has completely altered their life in the blink of an eye,” the victim’s brother added, noting that any donations are greatly appreciated.

“I ask, if you can, to please help them,” he wrote. “They will need a lot of support to get through this.”