P.E.I. kiteboarder ‘lucky to be alive’ after shark attack in Turks and Caicos

By The Canadian Press on May 28, 2024.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks And Caicos Islands – A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.

In an Instagram post Saturday, Lucas Arsenault shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed with his lower right leg apparently missing and his left leg and forearm heavily bandaged.

In an accompanying caption, he said the injuries were the result of a shark attack while snorkelling with family and friends on Thursday.

Media in Turks and Caicos reported the Canadian was attacked off the island of Providenciales, and the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force said in a statement Friday that they had responded the day before to a report of a 27-year-old man who was injured while snorkelling.

Police said he was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for treatment, and they shared no further details Tuesday.

Arsenault did not respond to an emailed message Tuesday but in his social media post he says he feels “incredibly lucky” to be alive.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2024.

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