British woman injured in brutal shark attack in Jamaica
/ Our Today
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Durrant Pate/Contributor
A British tourist is reporting that she was the victim of a brutal shark attack whilst swimming on vacation in Jamaica earlier this month.
She is 26-year-old Rachel Smith, who vacationing with her sister, Lisa in the second city of Montego Bay. Smith, who is from Newham, East London, reported that she feared for her life after the shark attack in which she was bitten on the left hand.
The attack, which took place off the Rose Hall beach, reportedly left her ring finger barely attached, as she watched blood pour into the water before being rushed to a nearby hospital. “I was in complete shock,” Smith recalled. “My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off,” Smith said.
Forced to fly home for emergency surgery
The East Londoner, who is a pharmacologist, was forced to fly home for an emergency operation, plastic surgery, as the tendons and nerves in her ring and little fingers were ruptured. She underwent surgery there and now hopes to regain full movement in 18 months’ time.
Lisa Smith explained that her sister has been suffering from nightmares since the attack. The sisters say a flag on the beach was raised indicating it was safe to swim, and doctors confirmed the bite was likely to belong to a reef shark, with Rachel saying: “I really did think I would die. The private hospital were only concerned with getting the payment before stopping the bleeding.”
Incidents like this, though rare, are a strong reminder of the dangers that can lurk in tropical waters. Sharks are wild and unpredictable creatures, often known for their reputation of attacking surfers, instilling both fear and fascination among beachgoers and marine enthusiasts.
While sharks are deadly predators, attacks on humans are relatively rare.
However, it’s still important to remain vigilant when visiting beaches known for shark activity.
Globally, shark and stingray populations have declined by over 70 per cent in 50 years, with overfishing being the main cause for their decline.
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