Canadian Woman loses two hands, husband fights off shark 

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – Some claim that it is an overpopulated ocean which is driving sharks closer to shore to feed, and it is leading to dangerous and deadly encounters with the apex predator in peaceful waters like those in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Seas were choppy, skies were partly cloudy but the white-capped waves and alluring turquoise waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands were the bait for two Canadian visitors whose morning swim was dramatically and tragically upended by a shark.

“There was a shark attack on the beach 10 minutes ago; close to where the horses are… “ informed a social media post shared with Magnetic Media.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross, a couple from Canada was swimming at the beach when Mrs. Ross was attacked by a shark, estimates put the creature at 6ft long.

Mrs. Ross lost both hands and a piece of her thigh.

The Royal TCI Police soon confirmed the tourist was injured, with this statement.

“At 10:33 am today (07th February), the Police Control Room of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force received a report that a female visitor had been injured while swimming.  Medical personnel and the police were dispatched to the given location in Blue Hills, Providenciales.

The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for Treatment.”

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, DECR was summoned to the scene where they observed an approximately 6 foot long shark circling near where the family of the woman had huddled, distraught and tending to her life-threatening injuries.

By 1:26pm, the Thompson’s Cove Beach was closed by the DECR.

In the Turks and Caicos, this shark is protected as a valued part of the marine ecosystem but some residents speaking to us believe the shark

is a man eater.

“I was there for 40 minutes and it was still lingering.”

In truth, it appeared the shark was still in waters mere feet away from its victim, even as her loved ones struggled to offer medical care until EMS responded.

“That shark bite victim lost both her hands and some forearms.  Her husband tried to fight it off.”

It was reported that the woman, identified as Nathalie Ross, was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.