A dream vacation in the Caribbean turned into horror when a 55-year-old Canadian woman was attacked by a shark. The terrifying incident happened just yards from the shore at Thompson’s Cove Beach in Turks and Caicos.

Witnesses say the woman tried to get close for a picture when the six-foot predator struck. Her husband bravely fought the shark as it circled back, but she suffered devastating injuries. “It was still lingering for 40 minutes,” one shocked witness said.

The tourist was rushed to a nearby medical center after losing both hands and suffering bite wounds to her thigh. She has since been transferred to Canada for further treatment. Harrowing photos showed bystanders trying desperately to stop the bleeding on the beach.

Shark attacks in Turks and Caicos are rare, with only one reported last year. But this tragedy is a sobering reminder of nature’s power. As one official noted, “A single moment changed her life forever.”

A sunny holiday ended in heartbreak—raising the question: should we risk getting too close to the wild?