A British tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark in Trinidad and Tobago.

The incident has prompted the government of southeastern Caribbean nation to shut seven beaches and a marine park.

The attack occurred at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay on Tobago with the closure including beaches along the northwestern coast of the island

A watersports manager at a beach hotel who saw the incident said the man was about waist deep in the water when the shark attacked.

He told local media their backs were turned, and they did not see the shark approaching.

“The other people in the water were physically trying to fight the shark off while it attacked,” he added.

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In a statement, the government said shark sightings were reported in the Grafton area and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park.

Officials said the closures will allow the coastguard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the incident and “neutralise the shark threat, if possible”.

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A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of an injured British man in Tobago and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide, along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.

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