Minnesota woman dies after losing arm in shark attack in US Virgin Islands

A 56-year-old Minnesota woman died after an apparent shark attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, authorities said, marking the second fatal shark attack in less than a month.

Emergency services received multiple calls around 4:28 p.m. reporting that a woman was suspected of being bitten by a shark while swimming at Dorsch Beach on St. Croix, Virgin Islands police said in a statement.

Firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived at the beach and confirmed that the woman lost an arm during the attack.

Initially it was believed that there was a possible second victim; however, St. Croix Rescue searched the beach and found no one else injured.

Police said the woman, identified as Arlene Lillis of Minnesota, died from her injuries.

“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones, and to everyone who witnessed this tragedy,” Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. said in a statement. “We have been made aware of the information known at this time and thank the bystanders who acted immediately to provide aid and the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save his life.”

It was not immediately clear what type of shark attacked Lillis. According to USVI Shark Diving, sharks that roam the waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands include Caribbean reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks, blacktip sharks, nurse sharks, and tiger sharks.

The attack is under investigation, police said.

This is the second confirmed fatal shark attack in less than a month. Authorities in California confirmed last week that Erica News, 55, died from a shark attack. It disappeared in Monterey Bay last month. The coroner determined that News died from “slash and blunt force injuries and water immersion due to a shark attack.”

Last August, a 63-year-old American tourist was seriously injured after he was attacked by a shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas.