Brave Encounter: Peter's Shark Attack Survival Story

Thu Feb 05 2026 04:36:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Peter Smith shares his harrowing experience of being attacked by a bull shark while swimming in Tobago, his journey of recovery, and how he refuses to live in fear.

Retired IT director Peter Smith recalls a near-fatal encounter with a bull shark during a swim in Tobago. Despite suffering serious injuries, including bites to his leg and stomach, Peter fought back against the shark and was saved by his friends. Now, after a long recovery process involving multiple surgeries, he remains grateful and optimistic, emphasizing the importance of not allowing fear to control one’s life.

Brave Encounter: Peter's Shark Attack Survival Story

It was the last hour of the last day of Peter Smith's holiday in Tobago when he decided to take a dip in the sea. Peter recalls, The conditions were perfect for a swim. He had no idea that a terrifying encounter awaited him.

While waist-deep in the water, Peter suddenly felt a massive impact against his leg. He looked down to see a bull shark, roughly 10 feet long, actively thrashing at him. Recognizing the imminent danger, Peter decided to fight back. I started punching the shark. I can honestly say I've never hit anything as hard as I hit that shark, he said in an interview.

Peter was bitten on his leg, arm, and stomach, losing a significant amount of blood. Thankfully, quick-thinking friends helped pull him from the water, raising the alarm as they fought off the shark. He recalls the chaos: I remember going into the water and seeing his terrible injuries. It was just awful, reflected his wife Joanna, who rushed to his side after hearing screams on the beach.

After being transported to the nearest hospital, the severity of Peter's injuries became apparent. He endured dozens of operations in Miami, including a unique procedure to treat his wounds using a membrane made from shark tissue—So I have a piece of shark in my leg, Peter joked.

Despite the life-changing injuries, which include loss of feeling in his fingers and difficulties in gripping, Peter remains grateful. I'm grateful that at least I have limbs. At one stage, it looked like I wasn't going to have any. He also emphasizes the kindness shown to him by the Tobago community and expresses a desire to return, saying, What’s the point in surviving a shark attack if you're going to live the rest of your life in fear? His story reminds us that while risks are present in the ocean, fear should not dictate our lives.