A major new update has been given on the condition of a British tourist who was mauled by a shark in the Caribbean.
Peter Smith, a 64-year-old from Hertfordshire, had to have his fingers surgically reattached and needed "extensive work" on one of his legs following the gruesome attack from the sea predator on Friday. He also suffered injuries to his abdomen, and remained in intensive care over the weekend.
The predator struck just a few metres from the shore near the popular Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay, Tobago. Local officials said they believed it was the work of a bull shark between eight to 10 feet long and two feet wide. In a new update, Peter's wife Jo has said her husband is "aware of what is happening and can communicate" as he continues to receive treatment at the Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago.
Fingers have been reattached but the Brit remains in intensive care at Tobago's Scarborough General Hospital (local news)
Peter is now 'aware of what is happening and can communicate' after the attack on Friday (local news)He is however under "strong medication", she said in the statement released through the BBC. Jo also thanked two friends that had helped "battle" the shark as it attacked Peter in the water. The UK Foreign Office said they were providing support to the family.
Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of Tobago, said during a Facebook press conference hours after the attack on Friday that the tourist had been relaxing with his friends and wife on the day of the attack. He added that the man was "doing well" and was being kept under sedation in the intensive care unit. Describing some of the work carried out by doctors, he said: "Some re-attachments were done, of fingers for example, and hopefully that will save those fingers.
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Authorities in Tobago put an £8,000 bounty on the shark but have since rescinded"We know that there's significant wounds on one of his legs that cannot be completely closed, but he will require extensive work. The task at this time for our health professionals is really to stabilise and ensure that we can save life and limb as much as possible. And the extensive work that is required will happen, subsequently but we are happy to say that he is stable and is doing well and we expect him to recover from the incident". Addressing Mr Smith's family, he said Tobago's government "will be by their side throughout this ordeal" and will provide accommodation and meals until he is able to return to the UK.
The shark initially had a $10,000 (£8,000) bounty placed on its capture before the offer was rescinded by the local government. A poster shared online had urged fishermen to "mobilise your crew" and promised the reward for the "safe capture" of the shark involved in the attack.
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