Minnesota woman killed in shark attack while snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands
A Minnesota grandmother was tragically killed after a shark tore her arm off while she was snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands.
Arlene Lillis, 56, was at Dorsch Beach in St. Croix on Thursday when the attack occurred, according to police. First responders confirmed that Lillis lost her arm during the incident and later died from her injuries. Marine units, fire, and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene.
Christopher Carroll, a nurse and former lifeguard, told The Virgin Islands Consortium that he heard Lillis screaming and rushed to help. “I saw a woman in distress in the water, and everybody was pointing at her. When I got to her, I saw a large amount of blood and realized it was a shark attack,” he said.
After bringing Lillis back to shore, Carroll noticed her severe injuries. Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach said Lillis was a “frequent visitor to our beautiful islands,” and neighbors confirmed she owned property in St. Croix.
Her husband, Rich Lillis, described her on Facebook as a “sweet wife, mother, and grandmother” and added, “She was so beautiful inside and out! She will be missed every second of the day. She was so smart and loving.”
Neighbors and friends remembered Lillis as warm and kind. Andrew Gamble, a friend and neighbor, said she had owned a home on the island for a decade and loved snorkeling. “Snorkeling—something that brought her so much peace and joy—was the very first thing she did after arriving back on the island,” he wrote.
Officials urged caution for those entering the water. “We are surrounded by water, we do not control the sea, but we can be careful,” Roach said. Nicole Angeli, director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, added that while shark encounters are not uncommon, attacks are very rare. “The ocean is a wild environment, and people should always use caution,” she said.
