APPROXIMATELY ten beaches along Tobago’s western coast – including the popular Pigeon Point and Store Bay – were closed temporarily on Friday after a British national was attacked by a bull shark while bathing at Turtle Beach.

Up to news time, Peter Smith, 64, of Berthamsted, England, was receiving medical attention at the Scarborough General Hospital.

His left hand, from the elbow down, was badly damaged in the attack. Smith also sustained serious injuries to his left thigh and stomach. The incident occurred around 9.15 am.

Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Dr Faith BYisrael said via WhatsApp, “So far, it seems like all of his appendages have been saved. We will provide a comprehensive status report tomorrow (today).”

Smith was a guest at the Starfish Hotel, a haven for tourists.

“Unfortunately, a visitor to the island was attacked by a shark earlier this morning in the vicinity of the Starfish Hotel,” THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said in a post on his Facebook page.

He said the shark was about eight to ten feet in length and two feet in width. The attack occurred ten metres from the shore.

Augustine said the Coast Guard was monitoring the area.

The THA is also offering a $10,000 cash reward for the fishing crew that captures the shark.

When Newsday arrived at Turtle beach around 1.30pm, all was calm. Many guests were socialising quietly in the hotel’s open dining area while others were in the swimming pool.

No one was bathing in the sea.

“It is unfortunate what happened today. I must admit I was a bit shaken up. But I will get over,” said a Canadian national, who did not want to be named.

The woman said she usually visited Tobago every year with her husband for vacation in April.

“It is the first time since I am coming here that I have experienced this. It is shocking. But I love Tobago and I will be back.”

Well-known craft vendor, Blacks, was at his usual spot along the beach when the attack occurred.

He told Newsday he was walking towards a shop when he saw two women going into the water and another running out of it.

“That hour in the morning the sun does be hot so I say they going to the beach. Meh eye stay with them and when I do so, I see a man going down in the water. So I say he cramping.’

“But then I hear a woman say, ‘Shark,’ and when the water go back down was the whole shark on the sand. It had to wiggle up to go back in the water.”

Blacks said the few people who were around tried desperately to assist.

“A White man who know a little medical thing tie up he hand and foot, band him up and within all that time they call the ambulance.”

Blacks said the shark also attacked another male bather. He got scratches on his stomach.

He said a project taking place on a portion of the beach may have caused the shark to come close to the shore.

“This is the first time I hear about this thing happening in this country. But we have a problem in Tobago. This morning (April 26), they excavate a piece of land all where the turtle was nesting and the