A Minnesota tourist tragically lost her life in a shark attack off Dorsch Beach on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands on Thursday afternoon.
The victim, Arlene Lillis, 56, was swimming when a shark bit her arm off below the elbow. Witnesses described hearing “ungodly screaming” as beachgoers rushed to her aid.
Christopher Carroll, a former lifeguard from Utah, arrived at the scene and said he saw a pool of blood in the water. “She was talking. I just kept trying to reassure her,” he said. Nearby snorkeler Ryan Connot helped get her to shore while shouting for a tourniquet and calling 911.
Despite their efforts, Arlene succumbed to her injuries after significant blood loss. Authorities confirmed her death resulted from a shark bite, though the species of shark involved has not been identified.
Arlene, a new grandmother, had spent winters on St. Croix since last year. Her neighbor, Andrew Gamble, described her as “active and fun-loving, and above all she was genuinely kind,” noting her care for animals, including fostering an injured stray dog.
The US Virgin Islands authorities are investigating the incident, while locals and tourists mourn the loss of the beloved visitor.
