Two Americans suffered injuries after they were attacked by a shark while vacationing on an island off the coast of Miami, Florida.

Tourists, 24-year-old Summer Layman and 20-year-old Rileigh Decker, had just arrived at Bimini – the westernmost island of The Bahamas – and roughly 50 miles from the Sunshine State – last Friday (February 7) when the ordeal took place.

Shortly after arriving on the island, the pair went out on a friend’s yacht, and just a couple minutes after jumping in the ocean, their worst nightmares occurred.

Recounting the horrific incident, Decker told TODAY: “I felt something nudge my leg, and I was like, ‘Summer, what was that?’, she was like, ‘don’t scare me like that’.

“Probably two minutes later, we were right by the ladder, I felt my leg get tugged down and I immediately knew I was bit by a shark.”

Adding: “I just put my head in my hands and started praying that God wouldn’t take my life and that I would live. Yeah, it was very scary.”

Rileigh Decker and Summer Layman were attacked by a shark while vacationing in The Bahamas (Dave Decker)

Speaking about her own wound, Layman said: “They [her friends] yelled to me that the top of my foot was shredded and I just hadn’t realized until I looked down.”

The beast is believed to have been a bull shark – with the species also one of the culprits to have attacked a tourist visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands on the same day (February 7).

However, unlike Decker and Layman who are hoping to make a full recovery, the Caribbean holidaymaker lost both of her hands after they were bitten clean off by the apex predator.

Following the attack, the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued the following statement: “Police in Bimini are investigating an alleged shark attack involving two (2) female tourists that occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 7th February 2025.

Decker has undergone three operations, two of which were to clean out the wound (Dave Decker)

“Initial reports indicate that the victims, both U.S.A. residents, sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay. They received initial treatment at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

“One of the victim’s injuries is listed as serious. Investigations are ongoing.”

At the time of the incident, both Decker and Layman were fortunate enough to have four friends onboard the boat who helped pull them in.

“I won’t be going into the water for a long time,” Layman told the TV station.

What should have been a lovely holiday experience turned into a nightmare for one tourist who got too close to a shark.

A woman has both of her hands amputated after she tried to take a picture with a shark while holidaying in the Caribbean.

The tourist wasn’t far off the shore when she tried to take a picture of the shark, estimated to be about six to nine feet long. Authorities have said she was in hip-deep water on a beach on Providenciales, the main island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago.

The incident took place on Friday last week (February 7), at the eastern end of Blue Hills Beach near Da Conch Shack and Thompson’s Cove Beach, and the shark in question is believed to be a bull shark or a tiger shark.

Authorities say the woman attempted to take a picture with the shark (Getty Stock Image)

Following the attack, she was taken to a medical centre and had one of her hands amputated at the wrist and the other mid-way down her forearm.

Witnesses, who attempted to assist the woman after the attack, have spoken out about the horrifying ordeal.

One witness said the woman’s family was close by when the attack happened, and she was even able to walk back to shore after being beaten.

Her husband attempted to fight back the shark as it continued to attempt to bite her. A crowd of people also used cloths on her arms to try and stem the bleeding.

Another witness said the shark remained thrashing about in the shallow waters after the attack saying: “I was there for 40 minutes, and it was still lingering.”

The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources Authorities issued the following statement on the incident: “On Friday 7th February a tourist was injured by a shark in the waters adjacent to Blue Hills, Providenciales.

A tiger shark is suspected as being the culprit in the attack (Getty Stock Image)

“The individual was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she was stabilized and later flown off island for further medical care.

“Upon confirmation of the incident the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) issued a beach closure notification from Thompson’s Cove Beach to Froggies ATV, Blue Hills in an abundance of caution. The beach was reopened on Sunday, February 9th at 1pm after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.”

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources Authorities closed their message by warning other tourists from taking similar actions due to the inherent danger of interacting with these animals.

Friends of a US tourist believed to have been eaten by a shark while on vacation in Indonesia have spoken out to share their thoughts on what happened.

The body of 68-year-old Colleen Monfore was discovered recently by fisherman in the Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste, more than 70 miles away from where Monfore was last seen on September 26.

Monfore, a retired mom-of-two, had been on vacation with her husband Mike when she disappeared during a group dive around Pulau Reong island, north of Timor-Leste.

A fisherman caught a shark and found human remains inside it (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

Efforts to find Monfore proved futile until fishermen captured a shark two weeks later and cut it open to find human remains inside.

After authorities were alerted to the situation, they were able to identify Monfore using fingerprints.

Her friend, Rick Sass, said Monfore was ‘really enjoying life’ as she embarked on the seven-week diving tour with her husband.

Having taken a closer look at photos from Monfore’s last dive, and spoken with Mike about the incident, Sass expressed belief that it was not the shark that actually brought about Monfore’s death.

Speaking to The New York Post, Sass – who runs a dive shop with his wife – said: “We do not believe this was a shark attack. Mike thinks she suffered some kind of medical issue in the water.”

Sass expressed belief Monfore likely had about half a tank of air left and was about 24-feet deep when she ran into trouble in rough waters.

The 68-year-old was swept away by strong currents (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

Sass’ wife, Kim, shared in the belief in a post on Facebook, saying: “There was a down current at the turnaround site, but it was manageable. I’ve easily done 1000+ dive[s] with this gracious woman … I don’t believe it was the environment and certainly not a shark that ended her life.”

Sass added: “They dove massive numbers of trips with us over 30 years. Bali, Philippines, Bikini Atoll, you name it. She knew what she was doing.”

Sass also pointed out that shark attacks against divers are extremely rare, noting that the group of friends have previously been diving with hammerheads, tiger sharks and bull sharks.

“You have to give them respect and be cautious, but they won’t just attack you,” he said.

Monfore has been remembered as an ‘amazing woman’ who ‘loved nature and animals’.

“I know she would have never wanted a shark to be blamed for this tragedy,” he added.

A US woman is feared to have been eaten by a shark after being swept out to sea while on her dream vacation.

68-year-old Colleen Monfore had long been looking forward to her diving vacation in Indonesia.

She travelled with six pals to the Pacific nation’s Pulau Reong island on 26 September ready for a fun time.

But things quickly took a tragic turn as the woman from South Dakota was pulled away by strong currents.

Neither her group nor her guide were able to pull her back on the boat, so rescue teams were ultimately deployed.

The 68-year-old was swept away by strong currents (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

That search proved unsuccessful and it was called off on October 3 after an eight-day mission.

Officials ultimately called it off because there of a low chance of finding Colleen, alongside dangerous sea conditions.

Further investigation has found that Colleen has likely been eaten by a shark after a fisherman from the neighboring East Timor caught a shark on October 6, three days after the search was called off.

Upon further investigation, the fisherman found human remains in the shark’s belly.

“The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net,” he said.

“It was cut open to find the problem and inside there were the remains of a woman.”

Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) for the Management of the Alor Islands Marine Park and surrounding ocean, said: “We have coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Dili, and the KBRI has confirmed the truth of this information.

“The body of the woman was found in a shark in Timor Leste. It was not in Indonesian territory.

A fisherman caught a shark and found human remains inside it (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

“We are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia.”

Officials from the nearby East Timor remain in contact with the Indonesian coast guard and are asking for anyone who may have information on the case or any similar ones in the surrounding area to come forward.

It was confirmed the human remains found in the shark had been wearing a diving suit and were that of a ‘foreign female’.