A Londoner has spoken of her terror after she was mauled by a shark in shallow waters while holidaying on the island of Jamaica.
Rachel Smith was left needing plastic surgery after the terrifying attack which took place just off Rose Hall Beach in Montego Bay on May 8.
The 26-year-old from Newham, east London, was bitten on the left hand while paddling with her 28-year-old sister Lisa.
The attack has left them both with nightmares, as Rachel recalled seeing her ring finger hanging off, as blood gushed from the wound.
Following the attack, Lisa led her sister to safety and raised the alarm with other holidaymakers who were on the beach that day.
She recalled seeing a metre-long shark moving through the water and warned people as they paddled in the water.
Rachel was rushed to hospital where doctors informed her they would need to perform plastic surgery on her wound, after the bite ruptured tendons and nerves in Rachel’s fingers.
The sisters had to cut their Caribbean holiday short and travel to Cork, Ireland, where their parents live, after they were informed no local surgeons would be available for two weeks.
Rachel has now received emergency treatment and is expected to regain full movement in her hand in approximately 18 months time.
However, the pair have been left with nightmares following the attack, as Rachel admitted: “There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die.”
"I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off,” she added.
“I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand.”
