Advertisement
EDITOR’S NOTE: Three (3) additional beaches have since been closed until further notice. The headline of this article has been updated to reflect new information. The list of ten (10) closed beaches now include the following:
Reef tours in those areas have also been suspended.
UPDATE: News of this tragic incident involving a British national has made its way around the globe, as several U.S. and U.K. publications carried articles about the brutal shark attack in Tobago.
The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said it has received reports of a shark attack involving a non-national male, bitten by what appeared to be a bull shark on several areas of his body. This incident occurred around 9:15 AM this morning (Friday 26th April, 2024), approximately ten (10) meters away from shore at the Turtle Beach/Courland Beach, adjacent to the Starfish Hotel.
A British national, identified as 64-year-old Peter Smith, is now receiving critical care at Hospital. He was staying at the Starfish Hotel with family and friends and was scheduled to leave for the U.K. later today. Smith was bitten by the shark on his left hand, left thigh and stomach while bathing at Courland Bay, also known as Turtle Beach. The shark, estimated to be between eight (8) to ten (10) feet in length and two (2) feet in width, caused severe injuries to Smith — severing his left hand from the elbow down, severing his left thigh, and lacerating his stomach. Smith received critical care at the Scarborough General Hospital and was listed in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after undergoing life-saving surgery. He was expected to be flown to Trinidad tonight for further medical care. TEMA said the affected individual was promptly taken to the Scarborough General Hospital for medical treatment. “Beachgoers and marine interests are advised to be avoid the Courland Beach/Turtle Beach until further notice.” Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Farley Augustine, has since announced the closure of seven (7) beaches in Tobago as a result of the shark attack this morning. In a social media post, the Chief Secretary said, “We are receiving notices of shark sightings in the Grafton area. Consequently, out of an abundance of caution (for the remaining portions of today), we are forced to temporarily close beaches: Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay and all coastal areas in between. This will lead to a temporary suspension of the reef tours in the area.” Augustine added, “Fisherfolk and mariners should exercise caution when operating in the area. Currently, we are doing drone reconnaissance/surveillance, Coast Guard surveillance, and the Department of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety.”
Following the incident, the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) said in a Media Release, “In light of the recent shark attack incident at Turtle Beach/Courland Bay and subsequent sightings in the Grafton area, the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP) authorities have decided to temporarily close the Marine Park until further notice. This closure is effective immediately and applies to all recreational activities, including snorkeling, diving, glass-bottom boat tours, and any other water-based activities within the park boundaries.”
The statement continued, “The decision to close the Marine Park has been made out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff. The temporary closure will allow emergency responders, including the TT Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries, to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation and neutralize the shark threat, if possible. We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience to our visitors and tour operators. However, the safety of our patrons and the protection of our marine ecosystem are our top priorities. We appreciate your co-operation and understanding during this challenging time.” The Division added, “Rest assured that we are working closely with local authorities and experts to monitor the situation and will provide timely updates as more information becomes available. We will notify the public as soon as it is deemed safe to re-open the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. In the meantime, we strongly advise all beachgoers, fisherfolk, and mariners to exercise extreme caution when operating in the coastal areas surrounding Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay, and all areas in between. For more information you may contact our Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries at 639-4354/4446.” More on this as it becomes available. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. We are a small operation. If you've found our articles to be informative, please consider supporting us via PayPal or buying us a coffee. Your contribution is incredibly appreciated and goes a long way. Simply sharing our articles also helps us. Sign up for our free WhatsApp Alerts to be notified as soon as we post breaking news. NEW! Check out our Merchandise Store for high-quality t-shirts, hats and more!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AboutYouthere1 is a website focused on providing useful information, breaking news, entertainment and online shopping in Trinidad and Tobago.
AlertsSupportYouTubeContactPrivacyCategories
All
Archives
May 2024
|
© 2024 Youthere1 Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.