A woman has lost both of her hands in a horror shark attack that only ended when her husband fought off the beast, according to reports.

Some claim that it is an overpopulated ocean which is driving sharks closer to shore to feed, and it is leading to dangerous and deadly encounters with the apex predator in peaceful waters like those in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The woman, 55, was enjoying a trip to Turks and Caicos last Friday morning when the horrific incident took place just a few yards from the shore.

A tourist is thought to have lost both her hands in a shark attack in the Caribbean after trying to ‘engage’ with the animal for a photo. The Canadian woman, named locally as Nathalie Ross, 55, was attacked in shallow waters off Thompson’s Cove Beach on the Turks and Caicos Islands at around 10.