Two American tourists shared their terrifying experience after being attacked by a shark shortly after arriving at a popular Bahamian resort. The incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. on February 7th at Bimini Bay, as the women, aged 20 and 24, were swimming after jumping off a boat.
Recounting the ordeal, the 20-year-old described feeling a nudge against her leg, followed by a forceful tug moments later as they neared the boat's ladder. She instantly recognized it as a shark bite. The other woman described the top of her foot being severely injured. Believed to be a bull shark, the attack left one of the women with significant injuries.
Their companions acted swiftly, pulling them from the water, applying a tourniquet, and seeking immediate medical assistance. After initial treatment at a local clinic, they were airlifted to a hospital on New Providence Island, then later transferred to an Orlando, Florida hospital where one of the women is expected to undergo further surgery. Both are anticipated to fully recover.
This incident follows a trend of declining shark attacks worldwide. In 2024, there were 47 reported unprovoked shark bites globally, slightly below the five-year average of 64, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. However, the Bahamas has seen at least two other shark attacks involving Americans in just over a year, including a fatal incident in December 2023 where a Massachusetts woman was killed while paddleboarding. A month later, a young boy from Maryland was bitten during a "shark tank" experience at a resort.
