American tourist loses leg in shark attack in Turks and Caicos

A 22-year-old American woman was attacked by a shark while snorkeling with a friend at a resort in Turks and Caicos. The victim was taken to a medical center in serious condition. The attack was described as a case of mistaken identity by a presumed Caribbean reef shark. While shark attacks are rare, officials are urging beachgoers to take regular safety precautions. The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.