British Tourist Who Was In Shark Attack In Tobago Is 'Aware & Can Communicate' Says Wife

A British tourist, who was attacked by a shark is now "aware of what is happening and can communicate", says his wife.

The shark was between 8 ft and 10 ft long and 2 ft wide. ( Image Source :Representational Image/Getty )

A British man who was seriously injured in a shark attack off the coast of a Caribbean Island is responsive and can communicate in the intensive care unit, his wife told the media. On Friday morning, Peter Smith, 64, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, who was 10 metres off the shore near the Starfish hotel in Courland Bay on the north coast of Tobago was attacked by a bull shark, according to The Guardian. 

Smith sustained injuries to his left arm and leg, puncture wounds to the abdomen and injuries to his right hand, his wife Joanna Smith said, as per BBC. "Peter has suffered damage to his left arm and leg, puncture wounds to the abdomen and injuries to his right hand, the full extent of which are still being evaluated," she said.

He is currently “stable” in Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago on Sunday after undergoing surgery. Hospital medics are now deciding on "the future course of treatment", she added.

In a statement to the BBC, she said, “As of 9 AM local time today, Peter is aware of what is happening and is able to communicate a little, although he is still under strong medication.” She also thanked her two friends who remained in the water during the attack to fight off the shark which was between 8 ft and 10 ft long and 2 ft wide.

The couple were on holiday with their friends and were due to fly home on the day of the attack. Soon after the attack several beaches and coastal areas were closed and a $10,000 bounty was offered to those who could capture the shark, but this was later retracted, as per The Guardian. 

The watersports manager of the Starfish Resort, Orion Jakerov, witnessed the incident and said that Smith was in waist-deep water when the shark pounced. "The other people in the water were physically trying to fight the shark off while it attacked," he said told Sky News.