A woman from Minnesota died in the U.S. Virgin Islands after a shark ripped her arm off. According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department, Arlene Lillis, 56, was pronounced dead after the attack. The attack happened at Dorcsh Beach on St. Croix. Several people called 911, and a nurse attempted to save her by swimming to her side. Sad News: A Minnesota woman died on Thursday after a shark chomped her arm off while she was visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands pic.twitter.com/RcmCgB0m3K — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) January 10, 2026 NBC News has more: First responders on the island of St. Croix were called at about 4:28 p.m. local time with reports of “a female who was suspected to be bitten by a shark at Dorsch Beach,” according to a Virgin Islands Police Department statement. Firefighters “confirmed that the female lost an arm during the attack” and she “later succumbed to her injures,” police said. The victim was identified as 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Detroit Lakes, in northwest Minnesota near the border with North Dakota. Christopher Carroll, a registered nurse from Spanish Fork, Utah who was on vacation with his wife, heard a woman screaming from the water and he frantically swam out to help her. “When I got maybe 10, 15 yards from her, I could see all the blood in the water, and that’s when I realized, ‘Oh, God, this is a shark attack or something,’ ” Carroll told NBC News. There were some reports of a possible second victim, but rescue crews did not find anyone else. “I knew it was a big, big shark,” Carroll said, according to NBC News. “And that was the most terrifying moments … knowing that there’s blood in the water, knowing there’s a very large shark that’s aggressive and not knowing if it’s still there. Is it coming back? Is it going to come back for her? Is it going to hit me?” he continued. World News Tonight provided video coverage: A Minnesota woman visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands has been killed after suffering a shark bite. First responders on the scene indicated that the 56-year-old woman lost her arm and later died from her injuries. @VictorOquendo has details. https://t.co/JLoMl2zrh1 pic.twitter.com/tt2iP6GFTr — World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 10, 2026 Fox News shared further: Police have not shared if the shark has been located, or what led to the attack. “Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the victim, and with everyone who witnessed this tragedy,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. wrote in a statement. “We have been briefed on the information known at this time, and we are grateful to the bystanders who acted immediately to render aid and to the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save her life.” Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach also expressed condolences and gratitude to first responders. “On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and all who are grieving this loss,” Roach wrote. “In moments like this, we are reminded how quickly life can change. We thank the individuals on the scene who stepped forward to help, and we commend our first responders for their swift action and professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances.” The investigation is ongoing, according to authorities.