56-Year-Old Minnesota Woman Dies After Suspected Shark Attack at St. Croix Beach

People reports that 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Minnesota died after a suspected shark attack at Dorsch Beach on St. Croix on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The Virgin Islands Police Department said officers responded at about 4:28 p.m. local time after reports that a woman had been presumably bitten; marine units, fire and emergency medical services were dispatched. Fire confirmed the woman lost an arm during the attack, and police said there were reports of a possible second victim but St. Croix Rescue searched the beach perimeter and was unable to confirm another victim.

Witness Christopher Carroll, who was vacationing at Sand Castle on the Beach and has a background in nursing and lifeguarding, told The Virgin Islands Consortium he heard screaming, found Lillis in the water and helped bring her to shore. He said her left arm was missing from the elbow, he could see her humerus bone from shoulder to elbow and "All the flesh was gone." He added she was pale and blue and that she said her name was Arlene.

Emergency responders rushed Lillis to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries, the police said. An investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778-2211; the Virgin Islands Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday, Jan. 9.

Key Topics

World, Arlene Lillis, Dorsch Beach, St. Croix, U.s. Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Police