Woman Attacked By Shark In Turks & Caicos Is From Fairfield County: Report

DARIEN, CT — The 22-year-old Connecticut woman who was attacked by a shark and had her leg bitten off in Turks & Caicos last week is a Darien resident, according to Hearst CT.

Hearst CT reported that state Rep. Tracy Marra (R-141), who represents Darien and Norwalk, confirmed that the woman lives in town. WTNH News 8 said the woman is a Yale University student. Her identity has not been released.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said in a news release that the victim and a friend were snorkeling in the waters outside Blue Haven Resort when they were attacked by a shark on the afternoon of May 24.

An employee at a resort in the area of the Leeward Marina, Providenciales, called police around 3:05 p.m. requesting ambulance assistance, according to police.

Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, along with an ambulance, were dispatched to the location, police said.

WTNH News 8 said the woman was airlifted to a Miami hospital.

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources said in a statement the location of the attack incident forms part of the Princess Alexandra National Park, a marine protected area in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

"Though incidents such as these are highly unusual in the Turks & Caicos Islands, swimmers, snorkelers and divers and boat operators are reminded to exercise caution on the water," the department said.

Read more from WTNH and Hearst CT