Minnesota Woman Killed in Suspected Shark Attack

A 56-year-old woman from Minnesota has died following a suspected shark attack off the coast of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, authorities said.

Emergency dispatchers began receiving calls at about 4:28 p.m. local time reporting that a swimmer had been bitten near Dorsch Beach in Frederiksted, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department. Marine units, firefighters, and emergency medical teams responded and found the woman in critical condition. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries, ABC News reported.

Police initially believed more than one person might have been involved and conducted a search of the surrounding area. No additional victims were found.

Family members later identified the woman as Arlene Lillis. According to the St. Thomas Source, two visitors from the mainland United States helped pull her from the water. One of them, Christopher Carroll, a nurse and former lifeguard from Utah, said he ran from his hotel after hearing screams and swam out to the woman, who was about 10 yards from shore.

Another rescuer, Ryan Connot, a Nebraska lineman trained in CPR, also swam out to assist. Both men said Lillis remained conscious while they worked to help her and reassure her as they brought her back toward shore.

“She told us her name was Arlene,” Connot said. “That was about halfway back. I think that was the last thing she said.”

First responders said Lillis’ husband was not at the beach at the time of the incident but was later located and taken to the hospital. The couple, who were from the small city of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, were frequent visitors to the islands, according to WTJX.

original source