Overview
- Police identified the victim as Arlene Lillis, 56, of Minnesota, who was pulled from the water on Jan. 8 with a severed arm and later died at a hospital.
- Emergency crews and marine units responded to Dorsch Beach around 4:28 p.m. local time after multiple 911 calls reported a suspected shark bite.
- Bystanders, including former lifeguard and nurse Christopher Carroll, helped bring Lillis to shore before first responders took over care.
- Authorities confirmed the fatal injury was caused by a shark bite, opened an investigation, and said the shark species has not been determined.
- Officials offered condolences, noted such bites are rare in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and said this was only the second such incident in a decade, with plans to strengthen beach safety information.