Turtle Beach/Courland Bay is temporarily closed off to the public after a tourist was attacked by a shark this morning.

The incident occurred at around 9.15am, in the vicinity of the Starfish Hotel.

According to an update provided by Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe,the visitor, a British national, suffered a severed left hand from the elbow, a severed left thigh and lacerations to the stomach.

They are receiving critical care at the Scarborough General Hospital.

The shark appeared to be a Bull shark, measuring about eight to 10 feet in length.

Meanwhile in an update, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced that several beachers have been closed for the remainder of today after authorities received notices of shark sightings in the Grafton Area.

“Out of an abundance of caution (for the remaining portions of today), we are forced to temporarily close beaches: Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay and all coastal areas in between. This will lead to a temporary suspension of the reef tours in the area,” Augustine said in a brief update on Friday afternoon.

The Coast Guard surveillance and the Department of Fisheries are combing the area to ensure safety.