Teen Tourist Recovering After Shark Attack at Lighthouse Reef Atoll

A teenage tourist is recovering in the hospital from a devastating shark attack yesterday at a popular dive site. Around 11:30 a.m., 15-year-old Sofia Carlson was on tour with the Belize Dive Pro company when she hopped into the water near the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. However, minutes later, there was a shark attack, and Carlson was bitten in the leg. Fortunately, she was rescued and taken to a Belize Coast Guard base on Calabash Caye. She was then airlifted by an Astrum helicopter to the Belize Medical Associates, where she received medical attention. This morning, Minister of the Blue Economy and Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez spoke on the unfortunate ordeal and condemned several media blogs for publishing images of the teen’s injuries.

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy: “It was an unfortunate situation. I want to say that this is perhaps the first time that we recorded an attack as such that occurred yesterday. I think one of the most important things I want to share right now is that we are being informed that the victim is okay, is alive, made it. What is the magnitude of the damage that we don’t know as yet, but certainly an unfortunate situation. We’re very saddened about it but I want to highlight that this is something that It’s very rare and I don’t think this is the time for us to say, well, you know, we’re not going to go swimming again or something. There must be some other reason why that happened. But it’s too early to say right now. I know for a fact that all authorities have handled it well in terms as it relates to BTB they are providing all the support, how the reaction was done by the people at the boat, how they reacted, where they went to help. Everything was done. I think the only part that I must call out and condemn it in the strongest of terms is that where certain members of the media handled it. I’m not accusing everyone, but I think that the responsibility of the media is very important because we’re talking about a family that is hurt right now and we don’t want to add any more injury to them. And I think that’s a disservice and I stand here condemning it in the strongest of terms to be sharing all those graphic pictures.”

The incident has raised several concerns and left many questioning what could have triggered such an attack. Today, Kirah Forman-Castillo National Coordinator of the Mar Alliance appeared on the Morning Show to speak about the important research surrounding sharks. While she couldn’t speak on the specific incident, she noted that shark attacks are extremely rare across the globe.

Also weighing on the unfortunate incident was the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard Rear Admiral Elton Bennett. He spoke on the response of his officers and the tour guides in getting Carlson the medical attention she needed.

RADM Elton Bennett, BCG Commandant: “We do hope that she’s able to recover well. It’s a very unfortunate situation. I want to believe that the response was very good. I think the after action of the tour company was very good in terms of getting her to safety within a reasonable time. I cannot speak to what occurred at the immediate area of the shark attack ,I don’t know the circumstances surrounding that while she was in the water so I won’t speculate and I won’t comment on that. All I will say is that it’s the first of I’d kind and we want to ensure that we’re able to be accessible to these tour companies especially operating in those remote locations where the Coast Guard can be of assistance. I think our response mechanism was fairly decent yesterday working with the tour company and with Astrum as well.”

The teen and her family recently arrived in Belize for vacation.